India hands 50 Rohingya shelters to Myanmar

India today handed Myanmar the first batch of 50 houses New Delhi built in Rakhine for Rohingya refugees on their return from Bangladesh.

It is part of 250 houses India is building under a socio-economic project for the persecuted community, our New Delhi correspondent reports.

Also, Myanmar announced visa-on-arrival facility for Indian tourists as President Ram Nath Kovind began a three-day state visit to that country.

Myanmar's visa-on-arrival facility for Indians will be applicable for international airports of Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, and Mandalay, an official statement released in New Delhi said.

Kovind led delegation-level talks between the two sides and said India attaches special priority to ties with Myanmar, "its key partner".

India values Myanmar on "Act East" and "Neighbourhood First" policies. Kovind described Myanmar as a "natural bridge" from India to Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

The Indian President said New Delhi is committed to completing all connectivity projects in Myanmar including a port and inland waterway component of the Kaladan project and reiterated its pledge to expedite the completion of the remaining projects including a trilateral highway connecting with Thailand.

Kovind also met Aung San Suu Kyi, the State Counsellor of Myanmar, at the Presidential Palace when the two leaders discussed various bilateral and multilateral issues.

The Indian President said that India "is in full support of the objectives of the national peace process" in Myanmar.