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Yangon, May 30 (IANS) Myanmar's official media said Wednesday that the country attaches importance to relations with India and stressed that "India needs Myanmar, and Myanmar also needs India, and that is the common ground". "As for Myanmar, India is a giant neighbour whose long experience in democracy will be so valuable for its democratization process that needs international cooperation for achieving further acceleration," said an editorial in the New Light of Myanmar daily, hailing Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's three-day state visit to Myanmar that ended Tuesday. "Besides, India is one of the global emerging markets with its consumption power in multiple sectors growing bigger and bigger every year," the editorial said, describing India as an energy-hungry giant. "This giant can help us create more job opportunities, acquire technology and set up light and medium industries through investment in multiple sectors," the editorial pointed out. It underscored that Manmohan Singh's visit has further deepened the cordial relations and enhanced the areas of cooperation between the countries, reported Xinhua. Citing President Thein Sein who met the Indian prime minister during the visit, the daily said Myanmar is grateful to India for its infrastructure assistance provided for border areas development, which contributed to the peace and stability of the remote regions running between the two countries. The editorial believed that the visit of Manmohan Singh heralds greater cooperation between the two friendly neighbours that may even contribute to regional peace, stability and progress. During his visit, Manmohan Singh and Thein Sein held a wide range of discussions, agreeing on expanding trade, improving connectivity, bringing peace in border areas and seeking closer ties on energy cooperation. The two countries inked a dozen agreements, including a $500 million credit line to invest in border area development, air services, setting up of a Myanmar Institute of Information and Technology, implementation of cultural exchange programme (2012-2015), establishment of an advanced centre for agricultural research and education, and establishment of a joint trade and investment forum. The Indian prime minister also met the country's opposition leader and parliamentarian Aung San Suu Kyi Tuesday. Manmohan Singh was the first Indian prime minister to have visited Myanmar in 25 years after Rajiv Gandhi.
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