India is known for helping countries nearby during any troubled times like the current pandemic and this time it is “Myanmar”. Indian government is in the fight against Coronavirus pandemic and has been helping out Myanmar in this by supplying ‘Remdesivir’ medicine.

Remdesivir which currently formed an important link in Indo-Myanmar relations is among the drugs used to treat Covid-19.  Corona virus-infected US President Donald Trump is also being given the same medicine.

Army Chief General MM Naravane and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla recently handed over 3000 vials of ‘Remdesivir’ medicine to Aung San Suu Kyi. There is a 1,640 km border between Myanmar and India which generally remains troubled with the non-state separatist modules acting the northeast part of India like NSCN-IM, NSCN-K, ULFA, and others. This issue was also discussed between the Indian and Myanmarese delegations.

Handing over of 3,000 vials of the antiviral Remdesivir was among the various tasks being carried out in Myanmar by Indian delegation. Other important tasks included operationalization of the crucial Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine state by March 2021, support for ensuring the safe, sustainable, and speedy return of Rohingya refugees, setting up of a liaison office in Nay Pyi Taw, building a bust of Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Mandalay Jail, and a mutual commitment to not allow activities against each other for example through non-state actors.

Naravane and Shringla were on a two-day visit to Myanmar. The purpose of this visit was to further expand relations in many areas including defense and security. The Indian Embassy tweeted that Indian Army Chief and Foreign Secretary had met Suu Kyi along with India’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Saurabh Kumar. During this time important bilateral issues were discussed.

The visit of General Naravane and Shringla is considered to be important at a time when the Indian Army is continuing a deadlock along the border with the Chinese army in eastern Ladakh. This is General Naravane’s first visit abroad since assuming office as Army Chief on December 31, last year.

Myanmarese State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was also presented with a pack of tea of award-winning category from the Makaibari Tea estate in Darjeeling. Aung San Suu Kyi, who has lived in India for many years, has been no stranger to Darjeeling. As her conversation with Indian delegation too veered around tea, Suu Kyi said that she preferred Lopchu, a 90-year-old tea brand that is famous for its aroma and smoky taste. It is grown in a tea estate situated between Darjeeling and Teesta at an altitude of 4,800 feet. During the official trip of handing over Remdesivir vials to Myanmar, Suu Kyi was invited by the Indian delegation to visit Darjeeling.