PM Lee to make three-day official visit to Myanmar

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong will make a three-day official visit to Myanmar from Tuesday to Thursday, at the invitation of Myanmar President Htin Kyaw.

His trip takes place during the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Myanmar.

In a statement, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit will affirm Singapore's long-standing ties with Myanmar, underscore Singapore's commitment to support Myanmar's development, and discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Mr Lee's itinerary starts in Nay Pyi Taw, where he will meet Mr Htin Kyaw and State Counsellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs Aung San Suu Kyi.

He will also meet Speaker of the Lower House Win Myint, Speaker of the Union Parliament and Speaker of the Upper House Mahn Win Khaing Than, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Min Aung Hlaing, and Union Solidarity and Development Party chairman and former president Thein Sein.

The Singapore leader then heads to Yangon on Wednesday. There, he will launch the Singapore-Myanmar Vocational Training Institute and attend a reception with Singaporeans living and working in the city.

Mr Lee will be accompanied by his wife Ho Ching, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Acting Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung, Senior Ministers of State Indranee Rajah and Josephine Teo, members of parliament Cedric Foo and Fatimah Lateef, and senior government officials.

During Mr Lee's absence, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean will be the Acting Prime Minister.