Yangon, November 2
Giving a fresh impetus to their ties, India and Myanmar today signed two agreements on enhancing joint education and research programmes and exempting visa requirements for diplomatic and official passport holders shortly after Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat arrived in this country on a five-day visit.

The memorandum of understanding on education, providing for exchange of research materials, publication and information, organisation of joint conferences, seminars, joint research programmes and training, was inked by Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal and Myanmarese Deputy Education Minister U. Myo Nyunt.

It also seeks organisation of various programmes for Ph.D students, exchange of academic and other administrative staff, scholars and students and collaboration of technology.

The accord on exemption of visa requirements was signed by Mr Sibal and Myanmarese Deputy Foreign Minister U. Khin Maung Win.

Earlier, as part of India’s “Look East” policy, Mr Shekhawat arrived here this afternoon to a warm welcome, becoming the first Indian Vice-President to visit Myanmar in 16 years.

Mr Shekhawat, who is heading a high-level delegation, was received at the airport by Vice-Senior General Maung Aye, who is number two in the hierarchy in Myanmar’s ruling military junta. Rajiv Gandhi had visited this country in 1987 as Prime Minister.

After the signing of the agreements, Mr Shekhawat held wide-ranging talks for an hour with Maung Aye who is Vice-Chairman of the State Peace Development Council of Myanmar. Later, Aye hosted a banquet in the Vice-President’s honour.