29 NOVEMBER 2019

SOUTH Korea will strengthen cooperation with ASEAN member countries in the smart city field and ROK’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to support four ASEAN nations through the Korea Smart City Open Network from 2020 to devise effective plans and conduct feasibility studies.

ROK Land Minister Ms Kim Hyun-mee made these remarks at the ASEAN-ROK Ministerial Meeting on Smart City, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit, on 25 November.

Union Minister for Construction, U Han Zaw, also attended the meeting after he departed from Yangon International Airport on 23 November and landed in Busan, South Korea, the next day. The Union Minister was accompanied by the Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman, Nay Pyi Taw’s Mayor Dr Myo Aung and officials from his ministry.

The Union Minister also attended the Breaking Ceremony for Busan Eco-Delta Smart City in the evening of 24 November, where ROK President Mr Moon Jae-in delivered the keynote speech. The ceremony was attended by prime ministers from ASEAN member countries, government ministers and deputy ministers, and mayors.

The Union Minister attended the ministerial meeting at Park Hyatt Hotel on the morning of 25 November and explained Myanmar’s smart city strategy and future cooperation with ASEAN, ROK and other affiliated organizations. A decision was also made to form a consultative body at the ministerial level between South Korea and the ASEAN member states for ensuring sustainable cooperation in the smart city sector. Next, the Union Minister visited the ASEAN-ROK Smart City Fair 2019 at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Centre (BEXCO) along with representatives from ASEAN member states. Upon arriving at the Myanmar booth, the Union Minister received an explanation from Daw Aye Aye Myint, Deputy Director-General of Urban and Housing Development, on cooperation between Myanmar and ROK and her department's implementation of the Smart City Strategy.

On 26 November, the Union Minister met with ROK Minister Ms Kim Hyun-mee and discussed the progress of the joint-national project on constructing the Korea Myanmar Industrial Park, the Dala Bridge and Dala Myothit projects, Myanmar’s Smart City initiative, and upgrading roads.

Afterwards, the Union Minister held a meeting with LH Korea’s CEO in Paradise Hotel.They also discussed the Korea

Myanmar Industrial Park and technical support for implementing the Smart City project in Nay Pyi Taw.

The Union Minister and his delegation returned to Yangon on the evening of 27 November and he inspected the project area of the Korea-Myanmar Friendship Dala Bridge yesterday.

Deputy Director-General U Kyaw Kaung Cho of the Bridge Department and project officials explained the project’s progress to the Union Minister, who provided feedback and suggestions in return.

—MNA (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)