President Kalam returns home

New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) President APJ Abdul Kalam today returned home after a successful six-day visit to Myanmar and Mauritius.

India signed several important agreements with the two countries in hydrocarbon and IT sectors.

Minister of State Kumari Selja and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, who accompanied Dr Kalam, described the visit as ''very important'' and expressed confidence that India's relation with the two countries would be further consolidated.

The focus of his visit to the two countries was extension of cooperation in the energy sector as India concluded two framework agreements for exploration of oil and gas in Mauritius' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Arakan gas fields in Myanmar.

While in Mauritius, Dr Kalam offered to import two million textiles pieces to help that country overcome the crisis and five lakh doses of medicine to control a disease from the mosquito bite.

In Myanmar, he announced 34.5 million dollar assistance for a number of developmental projects.

Another landmark aspect of the Mauritian visit was the firming up of the Pan-African e-network, which would connect India with all the 53 members of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

Dr Kalam, whose visit was aimed at giving a fillip to India's ''Look East Policy'', held wide-ranging talks with Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe and other leaders on the entire gamut of regional and bilateral relations.

Incidentally, it was the first visit by an Indian President to Myanmar, which has been under a prolonged spell of the military junta.

In Mauritius, the President, who was the chief guest at its Independence Day functions, held discussions with his counterpart Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and other leaders, taking bilateral ties to new heights.

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