From Jaishree Balasubramanian

Vientiane:Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi today met here on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit.

“An icon of democracy, a partner for development. State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with photos of the two leaders shaking hands and holding talks.

Earlier, Modi also held bilateral talks with South Korean president Park Geun-hye.

71-year-old leader Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy brought down curtains on five decades of military rule, is also the country’s Foreign Minister.

Last month, Myanmar assured India that it will not allow any insurgent group to use its territory against New Delhi, in the backdrop of certain insurgent groups from northeastern states using the country for launching attacks.

The assurance was given during the first high-level visit from India after the civilian government assumed office here when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on President U Htin Kyaw and held extensive talks with Suu Kyi.

Within a week, Myanmarese PresidentKyaw and Modi held wide-ranging talks in New Delhi during which the Prime Minister said India will stand by with Myanmar at “every step” of its new journey and that it wants to take the ties to “new heights”.

PTI