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Myanmar, EU look towards full cooperation

Myanmar President U Thein Sein has vowed to make comprehensive cooperation with the European Union (EU) following the latter's total lifting of sanctions on his country, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Myanmar President U Thein Sein has vowed to make comprehensivecooperation with the European Union (EU) following the latter's totallifting of sanctions on his country, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Meeting with an EU delegation led by Ambassador David Lipman in NayPyi Taw on July 30-31, U Thein Sein spoke highly of the InternationalLabour Organisation (ILO)’s relaxation, reinstatement of GeneralizedSystem of Preference (GPS) and the opening of an EU office in Myanmar. He also called for EU investment in the country.

Lipman said the EU has laid down comprehensive approach andconstructive framework for Myanmar's reform, adding that an EUdelegation comprising the task group leaders and eminent entrepreneurswill visit Myanmar in November.

Following theunion’s total removal of sanctions on Myanmar in April, Myanmarand the EU held the first ever forum in Nay Pyi Taw in June, a mechanismused to advance bilateral relations.

Relationsbetween Myanmar and the EU have improved following the visit byPresident of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and thesuccessive opening of embassies in Myanmar of three Europeancountries, namely Switzerland, Norway and Denmark in November2012.

According to official figures, the EU'sinvestment in Myanmar amounted to about 3.8 billion USD as ofFebruary 2013. Two-way trade between them exceeded 226 million USD in2012 of which Myanmar's export to the EU was only more than 43 millionUSD.-VNA
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