28 November
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi attended the First Mekong-ROK Summit in Busan, South Korea, yesterday.
At 10 am local standard time, the State Counsellor was cordially welcomed by South Korean President Mr Moon Jae-in at Nurimaru APEC House in Busan. She then took a documentary photo with the President and high-level government leaders of the Mekong nations.
During the summit, the State Counsellor talked about the success of the Mekong-ROK cooperation initiated in 2011 and the benefits it brought to the people in the Mekong region.
She said it was due to the importance placed by the leaders on Mekong-ROK cooperation that a summit could finally be held.
The State Counsellor said ROK’s New Southern Policy, ASEAN-ROK cooperation and the Mekong-ROK cooperation are supportive towards one another and assist in the establishment of peaceful people-centered societies in the region. She said as the protection of all lifeforms and preservation of the natural environment is important for all nations and proposed that Myanmar be allowed to serve as the host country for the establishment of the ‘Mekong-ROK Cooperation Biodiversity Protection Center’. She also expressed gratitude to ROK for funding projects conducted in Myanmar under the Mekong-ROK cooperation.
During the summit, the ROK President and Thai Prime Minister General (Retd) Prayut Chan-o-cha acted as joint-panel chairs while Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr Prak Sokhonn, Laotian Prime Minister Mr Thongloun Sisoulith, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc discussed on future cooperation of Mekong-ROK.
The ‘Mekong-Han River Declaration’ was also made at the summit. The Mekong-Han River Declaration for Establishing Partnership for People, Prosperity and Peace lays out cooperation plans under seven categories: agriculture and farming development, infrastructure, information and communications technology (ICT), culture and tourism, investment in human capital, environment and non-traditional security challenges.
Next, the State Counsellor observed an exhibition on Mekong-ROK protection of biodiversity.
From there, she went to Sasang District and met with Myanmar citizens staying in ROK. She instructed them to work to gain the respect of the host nation, to support fellow citizens working abroad, and how the Myanmar Embassy will put more emphasis on its citizens.
The State Counsellor then replied to questions on appointing another labour attache, developing the education sector, making payments of work insurance and remittance back to Myanmar easier.
At 3:30 p.m. local standard time, the State Counsellor departed by special flight from Busan to Nay Pyi Taw. She was seen off at Gimhae Airport by ROK Foreign Minister Mr Lee Tae Ho and officials, Myanmar Ambassador U Thant Sin and wife Dr Nan Myat Soe, ROK Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Lee Sang-hwa, Myanmar Embassy families and an ROK Guard of Honor.
The State Counsellor landed in Nay Pyi Taw in the evening and was welcomed at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport by Union Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe, Deputy Minister U Tin Myint, Chief of Myanmar Police Force Police Lt-Gen Aung Win Oo, ROK’s Deputy Chief of Mission Mr Jung Yung Soo, and other officials.
Returning with the State Counsellor from ROK were Union Ministers Dr Aung Thu and U Kyaw Tin, Deputy Minister Dr Min Ye Paing Hein, Nay Pyi Taw City Development Committee Deputy Mayor U Ye Min Oo and other officials.
In addition, Union Minister U Min Thu and his delegation, who were attending the second Ministerial Roundtable on Public Service Innovation and Exhibition, returned to Nay Pyi Taw together with the State Counsellor.—MNA
(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
