Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (August 31) held talks with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of Myanmar’s State Security and Peace Commission, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.

The meeting underscored India’s continued engagement with Myanmar, a strategically critical neighbor, under its Neighborhood First, Act East, and Indo-Pacific policies. Both leaders reviewed bilateral ties and explored ways to strengthen cooperation in areas such as development partnership, defense and security, border management, and cross-border trade.

Indo Pacific Factors 

Prime Minister Modi stressed the need to expedite ongoing connectivity projects, including road and port infrastructure, which are central to boosting people-to-people contacts and regional integration under the Act East framework. India sees Myanmar not only as a bridge to Southeast Asia but also as a crucial player in ensuring stability in the Bay of Bengal and northeastern frontiers.

On Myanmar’s internal political process, Modi voiced hope that the country’s forthcoming elections will be fair, inclusive, and involve all stakeholders. He reiterated India’s support for a Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process, emphasizing dialogue and consultation as the only sustainable path forward.

The meeting carries strategic weight at a time when China is deepening its political and military footprint in Myanmar, particularly through infrastructure investments and ties with both the junta and armed groups. By maintaining high-level engagement with Naypyidaw, India signals its intent to preserve strategic space, safeguard its security interests along the 1,600-km border, and counterbalance Beijing’s influence.

Modi also reaffirmed India’s readiness to assist Myanmar in addressing its developmental priorities, which remains a cornerstone of bilateral relations.

The SCO Summit, hosted at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre, brings together 10-member states including India, China, Russia, Iran, and Central Asian nations. In addition to Min Aung Hlaing, Modi is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting the summit’s role as a key platform for India’s broader geopolitical outreach.

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