Myanmar leader Maung Aye to visit Bangladesh

Dhaka, Oct 4 (UNI) Vice-Chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Maung Aye will arrive here on a 3-day official visit to Bangladesh on October 7, officials said.

He will be visiting the country at the invitation of Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and will be accompanied by his spouse Daw Mya Mya San.

Mr Aye is also the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services and Commander-in-Chief of the Army.

The Myanmar leader will hold talks with Dr Ahmed and call on President Iajuddin Ahmed.

His visit is taking place after the two countries signed an agreement in Dhaka in July 2007 to establish a 25-km direct road link between the two neighbours to boost trade and tourism.

The 20 million-U S dollar ''Friendship Road'' from Gundhum in Cox's Bazaar to Baulibazar in Myanmar was also designed to connect China's Kunming under tri-nation road connectivity which will give further access to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Asian Highway.

Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar stood over 60 million U S dollars annually with the balance tilting towards Yangon. The two countries are striving to increase the bilateral trade to 100 million dollars, the officials said.

UNI XC ARB CS1757