NAY PYI TAW, 12 Jan- At the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia Mr. Hor Namhong, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin attended ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) Retreat, held from 10th to 11th January in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and arrived back in Yangon by air this evening.

The meeting exchanged views on regional and international issues, the ASEAN Community Building and important issues of ASEAN.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers also discussed on the establishment of ASEAN Community in 2015, successful implementation of Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC). The Ministers reaffirmed their commitments for the realization of the Cambodia's theme for the 2012 Chairmanship "ASEAN: One Community, One Destiny".

On the regional and international issues of common concern to ASEAN, the Ministers discussed the Korean Peninsula and the implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and stressed the need to maintain ASEAN's centrality in the evolvement regional architecture.

Union Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin briefed the meeting on the developments in Myanmar and sought ASEAN's continued support the economic sanctions imposed by the western countries on Myanmar. He also requested ASEAN not to support the convening of any regional or international meeting on Myanmar outside the country. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers acknowledged the positive developments in Myanmar and renewed their call for the lifting of economic sanctions on Myanmar which would significantly contribute to the socio-economic development of Myanmar. They shared their view that there is no longer necessary to convene any international conference on Myanmar outside the country.

While in Siem Reap, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin had bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia Mr. Hor Namhong, in the afternoon of 10 January, 2012 at Grand Soluxe Angkor Palace Resort Hotel. Matters of mutual interests and cooperation in ASEAN were discussed during the meeting.

Before the AMM Retreat, U Nyan Lynn, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Myanmar to ASEAN attended meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, and delegation led by U Aung Lynn, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs attended the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) and related SOM Working Group Meetings.-MNA