Switzerland has pledged to support Myanmar 's sustainable development at their first economic dialogue which, was recently held in Myanmar ’s capital city Nay Pyi Taw, according to the New Light of Myanmar on November 20.

The dialogue was chaired by Myanmar Minister of National Planning and Economic Development Kan Zaw and visiting Swiss Secretary of State of Economic Affairs Marie Gabrielle Ineichen Fleisch.

Kan Zaw said the dialogue aimed to identify potential areas for promoting economic ties between the two countries under a memorandum of understanding on economics, investment, labour and trade.

The two sides also discussed the granting of work permits, commodity flow, investment and trade frameworks, intellectual property rights, banking, tourism, infrastructure and sustainable development.

The first round of the economic dialogue came days after the European Union- Myanmar Task Force first met in Nay Pyi Taw, with both sides vowing to build a strong economic partnership and voicing commitment to push reform in the Southeast Asian country.

In December 2012, Switzerland opened its embassy in Yangon during Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter’s visit to Myanmar. At that time, Switzerland committed to providing humanitarian aid worth about 8 million USD to Myanmar and the amount will be raised to 20 million USD in the coming year and to 35 million USD in late 2013-2016.-VNA