1. President Park Geun-hye and President of Myanmar U Thein Sein exchanged celebratory messages to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

2. President Park noted with appreciation that the two countries have developed cooperative relations in the full range of areas, including politics, economy and culture, since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975. President Park especially said that she was pleased to see the gradual expansion of trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries since President Thein Sein took office.

3. Furthermore, President Park congratulated Myanmar for its successful hosting of ASEAN-related summits as last year’s ASEAN chair. She added that she found it meaningful that the heads of state of the two countries worked together to devise a blueprint for future cooperation between the ROK and ASEAN as co-chairs of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit held in December last year, and shared a future vision for the ROK-Myanmar relations in their summit meeting.

o This celebratory message will be read on her behalf at a reception, hosted by the ROK Embassy in Myanmar in Yangon on May 21.

4. President Thein Sein took note that the depth and scope of bilateral cooperation have expanded since the establishment of diplomatic relations and that mutual visits by the heads of state of the two countries since 2011 have significantly contributed to further enhancing bilateral relations. President Thein Sein mentioned that increased exchanges which benefit both countries in a range of areas will significantly help further deepen bilateral cooperation.

5. President Thein Sein expressed appreciation for the ROK government’s support for Myanmar’s reform process, as well as the government’s technical and financial support for Myanmar’s national development. President Thein Sein also expressed satisfaction over the deepening economic cooperation between the two countries, adding that he expects the bilateral trade volume to expand further.

o He also said that the sharing of the ROK’s experience in the Saemaul Undong Project (new community movement) will contribute to the development of rural areas in Myanmar.

6. In addition to the exchange of celebratory messages between the heads of state of the two countries, the ROK and Myanmar will hold various celebratory events to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. These events are expected to help further increase bilateral cooperation and deepen friendship between the peoples of the two countries.


*unofficial translation