Jaishankar calls on Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi
Synopsis
Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing is on his first India visit since taking office — starting symbolically in Gaya before heading to New Delhi. With EAM Jaishankar already calling on him and a Modi summit set for 1 June, this five-day tour is India's clearest signal yet that it wants to reanchor its eastern neighbour relationship amid shifting regional dynamics.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar met Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi on 30 May .
This is Hlaing's first visit to India since assuming the presidency.
The Myanmar President began his five-day visit from Gaya, Bihar , underscoring spiritual and historical ties.
Formal bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi are scheduled for 1 June .
On 2 June , the visiting President travels to Mumbai for business and industry interactions.
A high-level delegation including cabinet ministers, senior officials, and business leaders is accompanying the President.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday, 30 May called on U Min Aung Hlaing, President of Myanmar, in New Delhi, marking a significant diplomatic engagement ahead of scheduled talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting underscores India's intent to deepen its longstanding bilateral ties with its eastern neighbour.
What Jaishankar Said
'Pleased to call on President U Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar in New Delhi today. Appreciate his positive sentiment towards deepening our longstanding bilateral cooperation,' Jaishankar wrote on X following the meeting. He added that he looked forward to the Myanmar President's meeting with PM Modi to 'advance our partnership for peace, progress and prosperity.'
Arrival and Reception
President U Min Aung Hlaing arrived in New Delhi earlier on Saturday, where he was received at the airport by Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh. Singh described the visit as one that 'underscores the enduring civilisational, cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Myanmar,' adding that it presents an opportunity to strengthen the partnership 'across diverse sectors and advance our shared vision for regional peace, prosperity and connectivity.'
Notably, the Myanmar President began his five-day visit to India from Gaya in Bihar — a detail that carries symbolic weight, given Gaya's deep Buddhist significance and the strong spiritual bonds between the two nations. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said upon his arrival in Gaya that 'the visit reflects the strong spiritual, historical and people-to-people ties that bind our two countries and the depth of our ongoing cooperation.'
Key Engagements Ahead
President U Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to hold formal talks with PM Modi on 1 June, with the agenda centred on further strengthening bilateral ties. This is his first visit to India since assuming office, and he is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising cabinet ministers, senior officials, and business leaders.
The visiting President is also scheduled to participate in a business forum during his stay. On 2 June, he will travel to Mumbai for business and industry interactions as well as site visits — signalling that economic engagement is a central pillar of this diplomatic outreach.
Strategic Context
This visit comes amid India's sustained focus on its 'Act East' policy and growing regional interest in stabilising connectivity corridors through Myanmar. India shares a 1,643-kilometre land border with Myanmar and has longstanding infrastructure and trade interests in the country. The bilateral engagement also carries geopolitical significance given Myanmar's complex internal situation and its position as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
All eyes will now be on the Modi-Hlaing summit on 1 June, which is expected to yield concrete outcomes on connectivity, trade, and security cooperation.
Point of View
Not just diplomatic transactionalism. But the harder test is what emerges from the Modi-Hlaing summit on 1 June. India's Myanmar policy has long been caught between its Act East connectivity ambitions and the realities of post-2021 instability across the border. A business forum and Mumbai leg suggest New Delhi wants economic deliverables this time, not just a joint statement. Whether those commitments hold amid Myanmar's fractured internal landscape is the question mainstream coverage is not asking.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing visiting India?
President U Min Aung Hlaing is on a five-day visit to India to strengthen bilateral ties, participate in a business forum, and hold formal talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 June 2025. This is his first visit to India since assuming office.
What did EAM Jaishankar say after meeting the Myanmar President?
Jaishankar said he appreciated the Myanmar President's 'positive sentiment towards deepening our longstanding bilateral cooperation' and expressed anticipation for the upcoming meeting between Hlaing and PM Modi to advance their 'partnership for peace, progress and prosperity.'
Where did the Myanmar President's India visit begin?
President U Min Aung Hlaing began his five-day India visit from Gaya in Bihar, a city of deep Buddhist significance, before proceeding to New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs noted that the visit reflects the 'strong spiritual, historical and people-to-people ties' between the two nations.
When will Myanmar President meet PM Modi?
President U Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 June 2025 in New Delhi, focused on further strengthening India-Myanmar bilateral ties.
What is on the agenda for the Myanmar President's visit to Mumbai?
On 2 June, President U Min Aung Hlaing will travel to Mumbai for business and industry interactions and site visits, reflecting the economic dimension of his India visit.
