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ASEAN commits to increase support to Myanmar

ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh pledged that ASEAN will strengthen support to Myanmar in its reform process.
ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh pledged that ASEAN will strengthen support to Myanmar in its reform process.

Speaking to the press on the last day of the 22 nd ASEAN Summit onApril 25, Minh affirmed that the association will walk side by side withMyanmar and assist the country on its path to reforms and nationalreconciliation.

He also committed to helping Myanmar perform its role as ASEAN Chair in 2014.

Over the past year, the international community has reacted positivelyto Myanmar ’s economic and social reform efforts.

On April 23, the European Union lifted almost all of its economic and trade embargoes on Myanmar .

At the ASEAN Senior Meeting in October last year, Thailand andMyanmar signed an agreement to develop the Daiwei Special EconomicZone worth billions of dollars.

At the same time,Japan and India recently affirmed that they will enhance trade andinvestment cooperation with Myanmar .

Earlier,the US sent its first ambassador to Myanmar in 22 years, andannounced that it is gradually relaxing financial restrictions againstthe Southeast Asian country.-VNA
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