The first Myanmar-hosted foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been set for January 17 next year in Myanmar’s Bagan in Mandalay region.
At the ASEAN FM meeting, Myanmar Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin will present the prioritised tasks to be undertaken by the regional group, an official of the Department of ASEAN Affairs of the Foreign Ministry said.
The ASEAN FM meeting will help promote tourism and bring more foreign investment into the country, U Aung Htoo, director general of the department, said.
In 2011, ASEAN leaders at their summit approved Myanmar to take the ASEAN chair in 2014, which was taken over by Myanmar from Brunei on October 10 at the 23rd ASEAN summit held in Bandar Seri Begawan.
During Myanmar’s one-year term of the ASEAN chairmanship, more than 240 regional meetings are scheduled to be held in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan.
ASEAN adopted its Vision-2020 in 1997 and is striving to establish the ASEAN Community in 2015.
Myanmar became an ASEAN member in 1997.
ASEAN comprises ten member countries – Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
