New Permanent Representative of Republic of the Union of Myanmar Presents Letter of Credentials to ASEAN

Key issues such as importance of the establishment of the ASEAN community and democratisation process in Myanmar highlighted the presentation of Myanmar Permanent Representative (PR) Letter of Credentials to ASEAN, H.E. Mr. Min Lwin, to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr Surin Pitsuwan, held yesterday at the ASEAN Secretariat. Ambassador Min Lwin succeeds Ambassador Nyan Lynn who completed his tenure as the Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to ASEAN.

In a meeting that followed the presentation ceremony, Ambassador Lwin conveyed that the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is working closely with other ASEAN Member States and on the right course on its democratisation process. Ambassador Min Lwin also informed the Secretary-General of the latest situation in the Rakhine State, which is now stable. Dr Surin raised the possibility for ASEAN to provide humanitarian assistance to Rakhine State as ASEAN had provided similar assistance during the Cyclone Nargis disaster in 2008.

Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Min Lwin was the Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the People's Republic of Bangladesh (2011-2012). His previous responsibilities also included the Director General for Consular and Legal Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2009-2011), Principal Officer at the Ministers' Office and Deputy Director-General of ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2007-2008).

According to the ASEAN Charter, each ASEAN Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to ASEAN with the rank of Ambassador based in Jakarta. Collectively, the Permanent Representatives constitute the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), whose tasks include supporting the work of the ASEAN Community Councils and coordinating with ASEAN National Secretariats and other ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies. The CPR also liaises with the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat.