Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Diplomatic Tour kicks off in Nay Pyi Taw

DIPLOMATS from Embassies of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation member countries arrived in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday for Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Diplomatic Tour. The tour has been organized by the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation National Coordination Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As part of the tour, “Presentation on MLC Special Fund Projects in Myanmar” has been made at the office of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation National Coordination Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the afternoon.

At the opening session, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Myo Htut delivered the welcome remarks. The deputy minister mentioned that the purpose of the MLC Diplomatic Tour is not only to showcase the efforts made by Myanmar under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation but also to create an environment of cordial exchanges on information, best practices, views and ideas for strengthening of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation mechanism. He also affirmed that the working structure of MLC based on shared values of traditional friendship, mutual understanding, trust and confidence is the “key” to the MLC’s sustained success in delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of the Mekong-Lancang region.

The deputy minister expressed his gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for granting 92 Special Fund Projects in various sectors with a total amount of approximately 27.4 million USD and appreciated the Chinese Embassy for cooperation and assistance to the National Coordination Unit of Myanmar. He also thanked Mekong countries for their help in the implementation process of MLC Special Fund projects.

The Vice-Chair of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation National Coordination Unit (Myanmar), Deputy Director-General U Win Zeyar Tun, also made a presentation on the overall development, status and benefits of MLC Special Fund Projects in Myanmar. After that, the project implementing Ministries i.e. the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, the Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, and the Ministry of Science and Technology gave presentations on their implementation process of the MLC Special Fund projects.

During the session, the diplomats from Mekong-Lancang Cooperation member countries exchanged their views on cooperation matters and the way forward under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation.

After the presentation, the MLC delegations went on a study tour of the Agricultural Data Center which is one of the MLC Special Fund Projects being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation.

Then, the MLC delegations visited the Uppatasanti Pagoda where they paid homage and made donations. They also visited the white elephants especially the newborn “Rattha Nandaka” near the pagoda and fed them.

In the evening, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Myo Htut hosted the welcome dinner for the MLC delegations at M-Gallery Hotel.

MNA