Imphal/Aizawl: India and Myanmar cemented their friendship by extending their land connectivity in Manipur and Mizoram on Wednesday.

Myanmar officially opened its border with India in a ceremony held at Tamu, twin to India's border town of Moreh in Manipur, marking the abolition of the special land entry permission which visitors required to enter Myanmar via land routes.

India's Consul General in Myanmar, Nandan Singh Bhaisora, said, "This is a historic day for India and Myanmar. It will strengthen the relationship between the two countries, enhance border trade and increase movement of people and cultural exchange. It is a giant step in our bilateral relations and Act East policy."

People from both the countries and from third countries, holding valid documents, can cross the border, he added.

R.K. Shivchandra, convener of Act East Policy Committee, said, "We are excited that we can now travel to other Southeast Asian countries easily."

Opening the international entry-exit checkpoint, Bhaisora said the government was taking steps to improve land connectivity between the two countries which would create a large number of jobs on both sides of the border.

Later, a conference was held between the officials of the two countries at the integrated checkpost, Moreh. Delegates from both the countries exchanged views on the opening up of international entry-exit checkpoint which will boost trade, increase people-to-people movement and open avenues in tourism.

The two countries also jointly inaugurated the land border crossing at Zokhawthar-Rih on the Mizoram-Myanmar border.

Zokhawthar is a village in Champhai district of Mizoram while Rih is in Myanmar's Chin State.

Chin State chief minister Salai Lian Luai and Mizoram's commerce and industry minister H. Rohluna, who was representing India, crossed the bridge over the Tiau, which marks the boundary between the two countries, at the Rih sector border trade point on foot to mark the opening of land connectivity between the neighbours on the Mizoram side, an official statement said.

Addressing a function at the land custom station hall at Zokhawthar after the inaugural programme, the two leaders expressed gratitude for the inauguration of the land border crossing between the two countries based on a bilateral agreement signed earlier and hoped that it would pave the way for cementing ties between the neighbours.

The agreement between India and Myanmar on land border crossing was approved by the Union cabinet on January 3 this year.

Officials said the land border crossing would facilitate movement of people on the basis of valid passports and visas which would enhance economic and social interaction between the two countries.

There is already free movement regime for people living within aerial distance of 16km on either side of the Indo-Myanmar border.

Experts from the Central Road Research Institute inspected the Indo-Myanmar friendship bridge at Zokhawthar village and a bridge over the Byawnu on the Myanmar side.