ASEAN envoy ends visit to Myanmar with progress

PHNOM PENH－The special envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, concluded his three-day visit to Myanmar on Wednesday with meaningful outcomes, said a foreign ministry's statement.

"The visit was undertaken amicably and productively with meaningful outcomes, which reflects Myanmar's support for Cambodia's efforts in moving forward the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) and serves to strengthen regional stability as well as the credibility, unity, and centrality of ASEAN and its community building process," the statement said.

ASEAN adopted the consensus in April after the Myanmar military took power on Feb 1, 2021, and detained civilian leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi. It aims to ease the situation in Myanmar. It calls for, among other things, the appointment of an ASEAN special envoy to visit Myanmar and mediate in talks.

Sokhonn expressed appreciation for Myanmar's support of the special envoy's missions, including this first visit and subsequent ones.

"All parties involved looked forward to positive development regarding efforts to resolve the current crisis in Myanmar, including the implementation of the 5PC," the statement said.

Sokhonn paid a courtesy call to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council of Myanmar, and the discussion of both officials during the visit included the current situation in Myanmar and the importance of effective implementation of the 5PC.

"The special envoy called for the implementation of three priorities, namely the cessation of violence, continued provision of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar and dialogues among all parties," it said.

Sokhonn also met with Myanmar's Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin and Lt. Gen. Yar Pyae, chairman of the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee.

"The Myanmar issue is complicated, it needs a long time to solve, we can't solve it during one chairmanship or the current chairmanship," Sokhonn told reporters on his return to Cambodia.

Cambodia is the chair of ASEAN this year. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Last Friday, Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said humanitarian needs in Myanmar grow as fighting continues, particularly in the southeast and northwest. There are 889,900 displaced people, including 370,000 already displaced before the military takeover, he said.

Xinhua - Agencies