After attending the 19th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Than Swe left from Tehran, Iran on 25 July for New Delhi, India. He arrived in New Delhi, India in the morning of 26 July 2024. During his visit to New Delhi, he inspected the Myanmar Embassy in New Delhi and gave guidance the office duties.

 

Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe, accompanied by the Myanmar Ambassador to India U Moe Kyaw Aung and the Myanmar delegation, met Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India at 3:30 pm on 26 July 2024 at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.

 

During the meeting with the Indian Minister of External Affairs, both sides exchanged views on further strengthening the existing friendly relations. They candidly discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation on issues such as combatting illegal drugs and arms trade, human trafficking as well as collaborating closely in ACD and BIMSTEC. Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs congratulated Dr. S. Jaishankar on his re-appointment as Minister of External Affairs of India.

 

The Myanmar delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe arrived back at Yangon International Airport in the evening of 27 July 2024.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe who is now in Tehran to attend the 19th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting separately met Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand at 8 am, Mr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha Prakash, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal at 330 pm and Mr. Soltan Saad S. K. Al-Moraikhi, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar at 430 pm Iran Standard Time on 24 June 2024 at the Parsian Azadi Hotel in Tehran.

 

At the meeting with Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs, both sides cordially exchanged views on strengthening of the existing friendly relations between Myanmar and Thailand, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation and further cooperating closely in ACD, ASEAN and BIMSTEC. The Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs also welcomed Thailand for its important new role as upcoming ACD Chair for the year 2025.

 

At the meeting with Nepali counterpart, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe congratulated his counterpart on assuming new charge as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal. Moreover, both sides cordially exchanged views on strengthening of the existing friendly relations between Myanmar and Nepal, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of culture, tourism, trade and investment and collaborating more closely in the international fora.

 

During the meeting with State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs appraised the Myanmar Government’s efforts to ensure peace, development and democracy in the country and the latest developments of Myanmar. Furthermore, they cordially exchanged views and discussed on matters pertaining to the further strengthening of friendly relations between Myanmar and Qatar as well as closer collaboration in the regional and international fora including cooperation in the ACD.

 

The Myanmar Ambassador to Iran U Moe Kyaw Aung and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present at the meetings.

Myanmar Delegation led by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and SOM Leader of ASEAN-Myanmar attended the 39th ASEAN-Japan Forum in Bangkok, Thailand from 24 to 26 June 2024.

 

The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi, ASEAN-Thailand SOM Leader and Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and H.E. Mr. Funakoshi Takehiro, ASEAN-Japan SOM Leader, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Meeting reviewed ASEAN-Japan relations over the past years and discussed future directions on further strengthening ASEAN- Japan partnership through effective implementation of the Revised Implementation Plan of the Vision Statement on ASEAN- Japan Friendship and Cooperation. The Meeting also exchanged views on Regional and International issues in a friendly manner.

At the official invitation of Dr. Ali Bagheri Kani, Acting Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the current Chair of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe participated in the 19th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting which was held on 24 June 2024 in Tehran, Iran.

 

The Foreign Ministers and representatives of the ACD Member States attended the 19th ACD Ministerial Meeting which was held at the Parsian Azadi Hotel in Tehran. At the meeting, the delegations welcomed the theme of Iran’s ACD Chairmanship: “A more Inter-connected and Empowered Asia through New and Emerging Technologies” and delivered their respective country statements.

 

In the morning of 24 June 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe delivered a statement at the 19th ACD Ministerial Meeting.

 

In his statement, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs congratulated the dedication and exemplary efforts of Iran, the current Chair of the ACD and commended Bahrain, the previous Chair of ACD for its successful Chairmanship. He also welcomed Thailand, the upcoming Chair of ACD.

 

At the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs also conveyed Myanmar’s condolences on the passing of President Mr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian of Iran and mentioned that their legacies and active involvement in ACD cooperation will be remembered and valued.

 

At the 19th ACD Ministerial Meeting, the Foreign Ministers and representatives cordially discussed and exchanged views on matters related to ACD Cooperation mechanisms as well as regional and global issues. Moreover, the ACD Member States updated the Meeting on the developments taking place in their respective countries.

 

At the meeting, the “Guiding Principles for the Functioning of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue Secretariat” and “Rules of Procedure of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue” were approved. In addition, the “Tehran Declaration” was adopted by consensus as an outcome document of the 19th ACD Ministerial Meeting.

 

During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs also updated the Myanmar Government’s efforts to ensure peace, development and democracy in the country and the latest developments of Myanmar to the Heads of Delegation of ACD Member States.

 

In the evening of 23 June 2024, the Acting Foreign Minister of Iran, Dr. Ali Bagheri Kani hosted an official Dinner in honor of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and delegations of ACD Member States at the Espinas Palace Hotel in Tehran.

 

The Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) was inaugurated in June 2002 in Cha-Am, Thailand. Currently, 35 countries, representing five (5) Regional Groups of Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, Central Asia and East Asia, are members to the ACD. Myanmar is one of the founding members of ACD.

 

By and large, ACD aims to promote interdependence among Asian Countries and to transform Asian continent into an Asian Community. The ACD Secretariat was inaugurated in October 2013 with its Headquarter in Kuwait city, the State of Kuwait.

 

At the moment, the Member States of ACD have agreed six (6) priority pillars of Cooperation that are in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development namely: 1) Connectivity; 2) Science, Technology and Innovation; 3) Education and Human Resource Development; 4) Food, Energy and Water Security; 5) Culture and Tourism; and 6) Inclusive and Sustainable Development.

 

The representatives from (31) ACD Member States and (8) regional and international organizations have participated in the 19th ACD Ministerial Meeting held in Iran.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe who is now in Tehran to attend the 19th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting met Dr. Ali Bagheri Kani, Acting Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the current Chair of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) at 10 am Iran Standard Time on 23 June 2024 in Tehran.

 

During the meeting with the Acting Foreign Minister of Iran, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs appraised the Myanmar Government’s efforts to ensure peace, development and democracy in the country and the latest developments of Myanmar.

 

Furthermore, the two Foreign Ministers cordially exchanged views and discussed on matters pertaining to the further strengthening of friendly relations between Myanmar and Iran as well as closer collaboration in the regional and international fora including cooperation in the ACD.

 

The Myanmar Ambassador to Iran U Moe Kyaw Aung and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Energy were also present at the meeting.

 

The ACD Senior Officials’ Meeting was held in the morning of 23 June 2024 and Myanmar delegation led by U Than Htwe, Director General of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the said meeting.

U Than Swe, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar received H.E. Mr. Deng Xijun, Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, at 0900 hrs on 18 June 2024 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nay Pyi Taw.

 

During the meeting, they cordially discussed the matters pertaining to the further enhancement of the existing “Pauk-Phaw” relations, the maintenance of peace and stability along the border between Myanmar and China, the acceleration of Myanmar-China bilateral relations, and the mutually beneficial cooperation in both regional and international arena, especially in ASEAN and United Nations.

The signing ceremony of the agreement on the transfer of fund for Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund (2024) Projects was held in Nay Pyi Taw in commemoration of the 74th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the People’s Republic of China. The ceremony took place at the M Gallery Hotel, Nay Pyi Taw in the morning of 14 June 2024.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Than Swe, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Myanmar, Mr. Chen Hai, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture, U Tin Oo Lwin, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, U Min Naung, Union Minister for Cooperatives and Rural Development, U Hla Moe, Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, U Khin Maung Yi, Union Minister for Industry, Dr. Charlie Than, Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Myo Thein Kyaw, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Lwin Oo and senior officials from concerned ministries were also present at the ceremony.

 

At the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Than Swe, delivered the opening speech in which he praised the long-standing Pauk-Phaw friendship as well as the establishment of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and China on 8th June 1950 which has reached to the “Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Partnership” in 2011 and further elevated to Myanmar-China Community for Shared Future in 2020 based on the peaceful coexistence policy. He also highlighted the success of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation due to the MLC Special Fund Projects started in 2017 with the sole contribution of China, and expressed his appreciation to China for granting MLC Special Fund Projects implementing in 7 cooperation areas under the MLC framework. He reiterated the commitment of Myanmar to work together with China and MLC countries to promote Peace, Prosperity and Stability of the MLC region with the spirit of “Shared River, Shared Future”.

 

Mr. Chen Hai, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Myanmar also delivered the opening remarks. In his remarks, the Ambassador recalled the friendly Pauk-Phaw relations, mutual understanding, mutual respect and supports between China and Myanmar. He highlighted Mekong-Lancang Cooperation as a crucial platform for the two countries to jointly build a community with a shared future in the new era. He also raised the willingness of China to continue strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Myanmar and other MLC countries, and to support the implementation of MLC Special Fund Projects for the benefits of Myanmar people.

 

Afterwards, the Agreement on the Transfer of Fund for MLC Special Fund (2024) Projects between Myanmar and China was signed and exchanged by U Lwin Oo, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and Mr. Chen Hai, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China. In accordance with the agreement, China will transfer over US$ 3.6 million to Myanmar for (12) Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund Projects for the year 2024. The projects will be implemented in Myanmar by six line Ministries in the fields of agriculture and livestock, forest resources preservation, eco-innovation and green practices of MSMEs, village-level poverty reduction, ICT and innovation and cultural promotion. Myanmar has received a total of (118) projects in various areas with total value of around USD (35) million from 2017 to 2024 through the MLC Special Fund supported by China.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered the opening remark at the opening ceremony of the Chinese Language Training Course jointly organized by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), which was held on 13 June 2024, at 13:30 hrs by video-conferencing.

 

Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) H.E. Mr. Shi Zhoungjun, the representatives of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and Center of Language Education and Cooperation, responsible officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the trainees joined the opening ceremony via online.

 

The Chinese Language Training Course will be conducted for six months via online. 27 civil service personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and the Ministry of Commerce will attend the course.