ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting Myanmar participates after being absent for more than two years

The Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was held in Laos on the 29th, with the participation of high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Myanmar, who had been absent for more than two years.

The Myanmar military has expressed a desire to normalize relations with ASEAN, and it will be interesting to see if there is any progress in the discussions going forward.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held on the 29th in Luang Prabang in the northern part of Laos, the country's chairman, and was attended by high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent by the military, which has been in power in Myanmar since the coup.

Three years ago, ASEAN told the Myanmar military that attendees at major meetings would be limited to non-political representatives such as bureaucrats, and the Myanmar military objected and remained absent for more than two years. This is a form of concession and participation.

At the meeting, they reiterated the importance of the Myanmar side implementing the five points agreed upon by ASEAN three years ago, including an immediate end to violence and the dispatch of a special envoy to mediate dialogue.

At a press conference after the meeting, Foreign Minister Samrusai of Laos, which is hosting the meeting, said, ``Myanmar is indispensable to ASEAN, and we welcome non-political representatives.We see this as a positive sign,'' adding that he intends to continue seeking dialogue in the future. was shown.

In an interview with NHK, an official from Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that they "want to normalize relations with ASEAN," and that they intend to continue sending representatives to major meetings.It will be interesting to see if there is any progress in the discussions. will be done.