The President of Burma (Myanmar) Thein Sein has received a business
delegation led by the President of the US-ASEAN Business Council Mr.
Alexander Feldman at the hall of the Presidential Palace in Nay-Pyi-Taw
on Monday, the state-run New Light of Myanmar reported.
According to the President, the USA-ASEAN Business Council served as
an important institution for USA-ASEAN relations. He added that only
peace and stability could bring about development of the national
economy, through which the nation could make possible advancement
towards a democratic goal. To fulfill that aspiration, the nation needs
the support of the US-ASEAN Business Council.
The President added that his objective of cutting the country’s
poverty rate by 16 per cent in 2015 was underway as the country has huge
economic potentials with a wealth of natural resources and adequate
manpower. He also mentioned the country’s strategic location flanked by
South Asia and Southeast Asia offers a vast market for international
investors. The President revealed the requirements of information and
communication technology in telecommunications sectors. Foreign
investors have been invited to work together with local operators as the
country has a target of ensuring 80 per cent of its total population
will have access to mobile services by 2015, he said.
Alexander Feldman, the US-ASEAN Business Council President, expressed
his thanks in favor of the sector-wise bids for the US entrepreneurs.
As the Council has started doing businesses in Burma, Feldman said he
anticipated to reach more economic achievements. He also added that the
trip was intended to strengthen businesses started 12 months ago. US
investments will go where they are most needed such as in infrastructure
projects and health and education, he said.
On July 1, speaking at the US-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Bandar
Seri Begawan, Brunei, Secretary of State John Kerry said the United
States remains committed to political and security engagement with
ASEAN.
“[Burma] is a country that is setting a great positive trend and
undergoing a dramatic political and economic transition,” Kerry said.
Kerry noted that Thein Sein, works with a resurgent parliament that
includes former military officers working alongside long-time democracy
activist Aung San Suu Kyi. The United States, the secretary said,
“strongly supports [Burma's] journey toward democracy, which is really
something that might have even been unthinkable just a few years ago.”
Burma’s Foreign Ministers Wunna Maung Lwin co-chaired at the
ministerial meeting. During the meeting, FM Maung Lwin highlighted the
visit of Thein Sein to the United States in May this year as a historic
moment in bilateral relations. During his visit, the President
reiterated his country’s commitment to steadfastly continue its reform
process.
“We firmly believe that the development of a relationship between
Burma and the U.S. will strengthen bilateral relations and thus
contribute to the advancement of the ASEAN-U.S. relations,” Wunna Maung
Lwin said.
However, the United States imposed sanctions on Lt. Gen. Thein Htay,
the head of the Directorate of Defense Industries, who it says violated a
U.N. Security Council ban on buying military goods from North Korea
despite Burma’s assurances it has severed such ties, AP News said on 2
July 2013.
Shwe Mann, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, told The
Associated Press during a visit to Washington last month that Burma’s
arms trade with North Korea has stopped.
“If there’s any information that we hear on this matter we will
continue to take actions as required. Because our country, like others,
will abide by the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council,”
he said. “We are not neglecting this matter.”
Unless Burma brought to a halt its defense ties to Pyongyang, the
United States may not entirely embrace the former rogue country.
source: Asia Correspondent
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