Phl seeks to boost defense ties with Myanmar

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is eyeing a security cooperation agreement with Myanmar, the defense department said yesterday.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin expressed the country’s resolve to boost its security ties with Myanmar during the visit of Myanmar Defense Services chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Wednesday.

“We look forward to the possibility of having a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Defense Cooperation with Myanmar, which can serve as a framework to promote defense cooperation between our two countries,” he said in a statement.

“The MOU will enable us to cooperate in various fields, such as defense dialogues, education, and training exchanges, among others,” he added.

Gazmin also thanked Hlaing for the assistance provided by his government to victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda. 

He also congratulated Myanmar for hosting the 24th Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit on May 10 and 11 and the 8th ASEAN Defense Minister’s Meeting (ADMM) on May 18 to 22.

“I look forward to visiting Myanmar again for the ADMM retreat in Bagan, Myanmar, on Nov. 18 and 19, 2014,” he said.

Diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Myanmar were established in 1956.

Last year, President Aquino and Myanmar President U Thein Sein signed six agreements on information cooperation, visa exemption for holder of ordinary passports, renewable energy, agricultural cooperation and trade and investments.

There are around 600 Filipinos in Myanmar as of last year.