Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi receiving Myanmar Defence Services commander-in-chief Vice-Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the former’s officer, yesterday. --NSTP pix by Mohd Yusni Ariffin
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that Lima 2013, among other events, was on Myanmar’s calendar as the Asean nation prepared for a series of economic and political reforms.
Zahid said this was conveyed to him by Myanmar Defence Services commander-in-chief Vice-Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during a courtesy call at the Ministry of Defence in Jalan Padang Tembak, here, yesterday.
“Min Aung’s visit is the first since 1975 by such a high ranking officer and it provides a good start towards military diplomacy not only towards Malaysia but Asean and Asian nations in general.
“This opens a big opportunity to explore and expand the defence industry’s products and service mutually,” said Zahid.
He recalled how Malaysia had assisted Myanmar in humanitarian aid and in overcoming its electrical power crisis that hit Yangon and Mandalay with the Royal Malaysian Air Force despatching a C-130 Hercules to ferry generators there last year.
Zahid said Myanmar was now gearing to host the 22nd World Economic Forum on East Asia in June.
The forum in Myanmar will be the first leading international gathering of senior decision-makers from industry, government, academia and civil society.
Myanmar will also assume the chairmanship of Asean next year and it will have a critical role in guiding the bloc’s 10-member economies toward the planned economic integration in 2015.
Read more at News Straits Times
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