Myanmar President U Thein Sein held talks with visiting New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in the capital city of Nay Pyi Taw on November 22 on measures to boost bilateral relations.

Mr. U Thein Sein spoke highly of financial assistance programmes that New Zealand has provided for Myanmar’s agricultural sector as well as its humanitarian aid given to the country’s disaster victims.

He said he hopes that New Zealand will continue assisting the country in the national development, especially in the sectors of education and health.

The Myanmar leader invited New Zealand businesses to come and invest in areas which can create job opportunities, such as agro-forestry-fishery, electricity, mineral exploitation and human resources development.

For his part, the New Zealand PM recognised the progress Myanmar has made in a short period under the leadership of President U Thein Sein. He said that New Zealand is to open an embassy in Myanmar to boost bilateral ties.

John Key was the first New Zealand leader setting foot on Myanmar in 54 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and New Zealand in November 1954.-VNA