Parliamentary leader seeks further cooperation with Myanmar
National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa, front, and other members of the South Korean delegation pay their respects to the Korean victims of the 1983 Rangoon bombing at the Aung San National Cemetery in Rangoon, Myanmar, Tuesday. / Yonhap
By Kim Hyo-jin
National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa proposed further economic cooperation between Korea and Myanmar during a meeting with Myanmar leaders Monday.
Chung met Myanmar President Tein Sein in Naymyidaw during his four-day visit to that country, and exchanged views on mutual interests including the way to promote bilateral economic cooperation.
“Korea promises to seek mutual growth,” said Chung, expressing hopes for closer ties this year, marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Myanmar.
Chung is visiting Myanmar to seek close partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and to lay the groundwork for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) meeting later this year.
The AEC’s plan to remove trade barriers between Southeast Asian nations is raising expectations that the ASEAN could transform its role in the global economy.
During the meeting, Chung said he would push the Korean government to designate Myanmar as a main recipient for overseas development assistance (ODA) and to boost spending of the economic development cooperation fund (EDCF).
The EDCF is Korea’s ODA fund, which was established in 1987 to assist partner countries with their industrial development and economic stability.
Chung also called on President Sein to allow the establishment of Korean financial branches in Myanmar in order to improve its investment environment for Korean companies. He also asked him to help Daewoo International win a contract to build a thermoelectric power plant in Myanmar.
The President responded positively, saying that, “Both governments should be active in pursuing joint projects.” He added that Myanmar chose Korea as a country with which to cooperate, from among many investors.
The National Assembly speaker also suggested launching a “Korea-Myanmar forum,” to promote high-level exchanges in the economic, social and education sectors.
Chung also met Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on the same day.
“Korea is a model country for Myanmar,” Suu Kyi told Chung during the meeting, noting that she hopes Korea will support Myanmar when it needs help.
Following the four-day visit, Chung plans to fly to Laos Wednesday.
According to a spokesperson for the National Assembly Speaker’s Office, Chung decided to visit Laos as part of his Southeast Asian tour to beef up ties with ASEAN.
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of re-establishing diplomatic relations between Korea and Laos.