New Delhi, Aug 22 (UNI) Myanmar today categorically said it would not allow insurgents to use its soil for anti-India activities and called for increasing bilateral cooperation to tackle the problem. The assurance was given to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who raised the issues during her talks with State Counsellor and Foreign Minister of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Htin Kyaw in a day-long visit to Nay Pyi Taw. Ms Swaraj’s trip, the first high-level visit to Myanmar after the installation of the new National League for Democracy Government led by Suu Kyi, came days after the Indian Army had an encounter with NSCN-K militants who were said to be trying to cross over to India from Myanmar. The Indian Army had denied reports that it had crossed the border. "Both sides agreed to make efforts to ensure peace and security along the long shared border. The Myanmar side stated that activities of insurgent groups would not be countenanced from Myanmar territory and suggested that this issue should be addressed and taken forward through cooperation in established bilateral forums,’’ sources said here. Ms Suu Kyi briefed Ms Swaraj on the preparations for the upcoming 21st Century Panglong Conference for National Reconciliation, and the latter conveyed India’s full support to this process and said India stood ready to extend any necessary help. During the visit, both the countries agreed to work together to identify new areas of cooperation where there was much untapped potential such as agriculture, especially pulses, power (India is already supplying 3 MW electricity to Myanmar through the Moreh-Tamu link), renewable energy, skill development, health, education, transport and social development. The Myanmar side expressed appreciation for the training that 20 Myanmar MPs had recently received at the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training in New Delhi. The Myanmar President said, “India is the country we should get best lessons from on what democracy means.” Ms Swaraj invited both the Myanmar President and the State Counsellor to visit India at their earliest convenience, and they accepted the invite, the sources said. UNI NAZ SW 2043