On 11 and 12 October 2016, Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, visited Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar on a working visit.
Myanmar’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and State Advisor, Aung San Suu Kyi, invited Jean Asselborn to the country on work visit which involved meeting with President Htin Kyaw, along with the presidents of parliament’s lower chamber, Win Myint, and upper chamber, Mahn Win Khaing Than.
The meeting allowed Minister Asselborn to exchange views with the Myanmar authorities regarding the country’s situation, especially its democratic transition process following the 2015 elections. Jean Asselborn congratulated the new government on its desire to encourage the peace process and national reconciliation, highlighting that this is a historic step for Myanmar. Aware also of the scale of challenges still to come, the minister assured his counterparts of the continued support from Luxembourg and the European Union in achieving this aim.
Indeed Minister Asselborn assured that Luxembourg is willing to support Myanmar’s political and socio-economic development, while also insisting on the importance of the continued promotion of human rights in a country with over 135 ethnic minorities, including a significant Muslim minority.
As such, he admitted to being particularly worried by the situation in the Rakhine State where a large Muslim community lives.
Moreover, Jean Asselborn’s meetings with Myanmar’s authorities have highlighted the strengthened bilateral relations between the two countries, who first established diplomatic relations in 2012.
Photo by MAEE
