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.

Meeting with an EU delegation led by Ambassador David Lipman in Nay Pyi Taw on July 30-31, U Thein Sein spoke highly of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s relaxation, reinstatement of Generalized System 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 and constructive framework for Myanmar's reform, adding that an EU delegation comprising the task group leaders and eminent entrepreneurs will visit Myanmar in November.

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

Relations between Myanmar and the EU have improved following the visit by President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and the successive opening of embassies in Myanmar of three European countries, namely Switzerland, Norway and Denmark in November 2012.

According to official figures, the EU's investment in Myanmar amounted to about 3.8 billion USD as of February 2013. Two-way trade between them exceeded 226 million USD in 2012 of which Myanmar's export to the EU was only more than 43 million USD.-VNA