He came as an advanced member of a 31-member high-powered military delegation led by General Thura Shwe Mann, a member of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). It will be the first time for Shwe Mann, also the third most powerful leader in Myanmar, to visit Bangladesh.

The Myanmar commerce minister is due to hold official talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Altaf Hossain Choudhury today on ways of enhancing bilateral trade between the two neighbouring countries.

Official sources said the two-way trade now accounts for only around $30 milliona peanut compared to a huge potential. Discussion will be held on possible steps that can be taken to raise the volume to $100 million in next one year.

Also, the two countries are expected to discuss about the natural gas pipeline project between Myanmar and India through Bangladesh.

India is to buy gas from offshore block A-1 in Myanmar's Rakhine state and means are being sought to transport the gas from Myanmar to India's West Bengal state via Bangladesh.

The issue of illegal movement of militants and arms transportation, which is straining the bilateral economic and diplomatic relations, is also expected to be discussed.

Myanmar and Bangladesh have maintained exchange of high-level visits in recent years.

In December 2002, Myanmar SPDC Chairman Senior-General Than Shwe visited Dhaka while Prime Minister Khaleda Zia visited Yangon in 2003, during which the two countries signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on the establishment of a joint trade commission and an agreement on coastal and maritime shipping.