SEOUL, KOREA – Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan, during his visit to Myanmar on May 1-2, paid a courtesy call on President Thein Sein and met with his counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin in the Myanmarese capital of Nepido on May 2.
During the courtesy call on President Thein Sein, the two sides exchanged views on a wide range of matters, including the situation in Myanmar as well as ways to promote substantive cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Minister Kim took note of the political and reformative progress in Myanmar and highlighted the need for strong efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment.
Minister Kim also relayed the willingness of the ROK government to contribute to the development process in Myanmar through cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the Mekong region.
President Thein Sein extended gratitude to the ROK side for its development cooperation efforts, such as the continued expansion of official development assistance and sharing of is its development experience. He voiced hope for continued support and a growth in bilateral exchanges in various fields, including politics, economy, culture and sports.
Earlier in the day, Minister Kim had met with Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin to commend the progress in the democratization and other positive changes in Myanmar following the launch of its civil government. The two sides discussed in depth the current situation on the Korean Peninsula as well as ways to increase high-level exchanges with the aim to promote bilateral relations; and to work more closely together in various fields, including trade, investment, development, energy and resources, and on regional and global stages.
Minister Kim commended the recent strides in the political and economic reform in Myanmar and welcomed the designation of the country as the chair of ASEAN for 2014.
The two Ministers exchanged views on the recent developments on the Korean Peninsula, including the stern responses of the ROK and the international community to North Korea’s missile launch. Minister Kim requested the cooperation of Myanmar on North Korea issues.
Agreeing to take a keen interest in and work to boost bilateral trade and investment, the two Ministers exchanged views on ways to improve the investment environment in Myanmar.
Minister Wunna Maung Lwin expressed appreciation for the ROK’s resumption of grant aid and loans to Myanmar. He voiced hope for continued support from the ROK in the development process in Myanmar, and requested assistance in developing human resources.
The visit to Myanmar by Minister Kim, the first by a Foreign Minister since 1985, is expected to have served as a good opportunity to develop the ROK-Myanmar relations in the years to come.
