Rody leaves for Myanmar

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte leaves today for a two-day official visit to Myanmar as part of efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries while the Philippines chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year.

Duterte’s visit to Myanmar, which will be followed by a trip to Thailand this week, will end his regional tour.

Duterte is scheduled to meet Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations between Philippines and Myanmar. 

The signing of a memorandum of understanding on food security and agricultural cooperation will highlight the visit.

“President Duterte’s visit to Myanmar is significant in many respects. In particular, the discussion will include talks on improving trade and investment relations,” said Alex Chua, ambassador to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Duterte is also scheduled to meet other high-level government officials, including State Counselor and Foreign Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Defense Services Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The Philippine delegation includes acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, Press Secretary Martin Andanar, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Isidro Lapeña.

As has been the practice, Duterte will meet tonight with the members of the Filipino community in Nay Pyi Taw, the country’s capital. He will give a talk before Filipinos about his administration’s priority programs in the Philippines.

Myanmar is home to approximately 1,800 Filipinos. Data from the embassy show that many of them are employed in foreign firms and international organizations.

The President’s visit in Myanmar will also coincide with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-Myanmar bilateral relations.

“Commemorative activities have been held beginning last year and the President’s visit to Myanmar this year is the culmination of the celebration of this milestone in our friendly relations with Myanmar,” Chua said.

Chua also said Duterte’s visit to Myanmar, an ASEAN member country, symbolizes the Philippines’ commitment to the shared aspiration and values of ASEAN.

The Philippines is the chair of ASEAN which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Philippines-Myanmar diplomatic relations are over 60 years old with ties formally established in 1956. The Philippine embassy in Rangoon, now Yangon, was opened in 1958.

Since assuming the presidency, Duterte has visited the ASEAN states of Laos, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Cambodia.

The President traveled to Bangkok in November last year. But the purpose of that trip was to pay his respects to the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej.