MFA Press Release : Transcript of Minister in Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Second Minister for the Environment & Water Resources Grace Fu’S Rreply to Parliamentary Question on Myanmar’s Hosting of the 2013 Southeast Asian Games, 21 January 2014

TRANSCRIPT OF MINISTER IN PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE, SECOND MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND SECOND MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES GRACE FU’S REPLY TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION ON MYANMAR’S HOSTING OF THE 2013 SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES, 21 JANUARY 2014

QUESTION :-

MR NICHOLAS FANG: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs what has Myanmar's hosting of the 2013 Southeast Asian Games shown about the country's ability to be an active and contributing member of ASEAN.

REPLY:

SECOND MINISTER: Myanmar successfully hosted the 27th Southeast Asian Games in December 2013, earning international accolades for its elaborate planning, organisation and warm hospitality extended to all participating countries and the foreign media.  The 27th SEA Games was another reflection of the country's positive transformation and development, and demonstrates Myanmar's ability to host large international events and its desire to integrate into the international community.  In the same spirit as its hosting of the 27th SEA Games, Myanmar has made extensive preparations for its ASEAN Chairmanship this year.  They were on full display at the recent ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat, held on 16 and 17 January in Bagan, in central Myanmar.  Singapore is confident that Myanmar will be an effective and active Chairman of ASEAN. Singapore will continue to support Myanmar’s Chairmanship and assist in whatever capacity we can.  We will also continue to work closely with fellow ASEAN Member States to ensure that Myanmar's ASEAN Chairmanship will be a success and bring ASEAN Member States closer to our Community goals in 2015.

.     .     .     .     .

TRANSCRIPT OF MINISTER IN PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE, SECOND MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND SECOND MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES GRACE FU’S REPLY TO SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION, 21 JANUARY 2014

SPEAKER: Mr Fang.

MR NICHOLAS FANG: Thank you Madam Speaker. Thank you Minister for the reply.  There have been reports that Myanmar received considerable support from the international community, especially from countries like China and Japan, in the staging of their Southeast Asian Games last year.  Is there any concern on the part of the Ministry that such influences, be it through ‘soft power’ like a sports event – could that influence Myanmar as Chair of ASEAN as we saw during Cambodia’s Chairmanship two years ago?  Thank you.

SECOND MINISTER: Thank you for your supplementary question.  I think in the process of our country’s development, we have, at one time or another, received assistance from many countries. And Myanmar and many other developing countries in Asia are on that same path. What we like to do as ASEAN is to have solidarity in the views that affect the common interests of ASEAN.  And as we all know, ASEAN works on the basis of unanimity – we need to have consensus and agreement.  Therefore, I am sure that through discussions with all the other ASEAN member states, we will continue to achieve our common objectives. Thank you.

.     .     .     .     .