India-Myanmar Bilateral Relations: Cooperate Actively and Progress Significantly

Abstract

Under the background of Myanmar’s political transition, economic reform and adjustment of its foreign strategy, India-Myanmar Relations is facing development opportunities. The mutual visiting of high-level officials of the two countries provides opportunities for developing bilateral cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, security and culture. The bilateral economic relationship and trade grow rapidly, the border trade grows gradually and the investment relationship is developing. In the field of security, because of the wish to establish the defense cooperation mechanism of mutually beneficial type, the military exchanges between the two countries have become more frequent, the institutional route of military exchanges and cooperation is gradually shaping. On the basis of the traditional security cooperation field, maritime security cooperation becomes the new element for security cooperation between the two countries. In order to expand its influence in Myanmar, India increased its aid to Myanmar in the hardware facilities and construction of soft power. Enhancing the communication and cooperation within the regional and subregional cooperation frame will provide another platform for the new development of the two countries’ relations.