By Alex Guite
IMPHAL, November 11: Parliamentary secretary Vungzagin Valte today led a team of community leaders from Churachandpur to meet the Chin State Chief Minister U Hong Ngai led Myanmar delegation attending the Sangai Festival here in Imphal, today.
The Churachandpur team called upon the Myanmar delegates at the Classic Hotel where the Myanmar team is staying and discussed the Indo-Myanmar road connectivity through Churachandpur district and the opening of a border trade centre at Behiang in Singhat sub-division.
The Churachandpur team was led by Thanlon MLA Vungzagin Valte and included Zomi Council`™s steering committee member R Sanga, Zomi Human Rights secretary Suanmoi, Paite Tribe Council (Imphal) secretary Suanthang, while the Myanmar delegate include the Chin State Chief Minister U Hong Ngai, ministers of the State including Dr Ba Maung (Social Welfare), U Kien Ngein (Forest), Cinlianpau (Electricity and Industry) among others.
During the meeting, Valte apprise the Myanmar delegate that the road connection between the two countries will be shortened by more than 200 kms if the Moreh to Silchar (last stretch of the East- West corridor of India) was diverted from Behiang to Silchar instead at which the Chin Chief Minister replied that around 60 kms will be shortened on their side of the route if the Behiang project becomes a reality.
It was also mutually agreed that a trade centre at Behiang will boost the Indian government`™s Look East Policy and that it will improve the socio-economic aspect of both sides if the proposed set up was worked out.
At the same time, the Chief Minister of the Chin State also observed that the people of Chin and those from hills of the State are brothers divided by the international border.