Burmese military dictator, Senior-General Than Shwe (AP)
Official media hail Sri Lankan president's Myanmar visit
(chinaview.cn, Editor Zhang Xiang, 6/16/09)
YANGON, Burma (Xinhua) -- Myanmar official media Tuesday hailed the current visit to Burma of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, saying that the president's visit contributes to the continuous strengthening of the two countries' bilateral cooperation.
Burma and Sri Lanka have maintained relations in the field of religion since time immemorial. Throughout the course of history, the two countries have been able to strengthen friendship and cooperation, said the New Light of Myanmar in its editorial.
"As the diplomatic relations of the two countries have turned 60 years, they have been able to cement friendship and cooperation all the more. And their cooperation in religious, trade economic, education, agriculture, and forest, hotels, and tourism and transport is ever more apparent," the editorial added.
"As the diplomatic relations of the two countries have turned 60 years, they have been able to cement friendship and cooperation all the more. And their cooperation in religious, trade economic, education, agriculture, and forest, hotels, and tourism and transport is ever more apparent," the editorial added.
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa (sulekha.com)
Rajapaksa arrived in the new capital Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday morning on a state visit to the country, during which he met with Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (formerly "SLORC") Senior-General Than Shwe and had talks with Prime Minister General Thein Sein on the promotion of cooperation in the two countries' bilateral ties, religious affairs, trade, economy, education, agri-culture, forestry, hotels, and tourism and transport as well as regional cooperation and mutual cooperation in international arena.
For the occasion, Myanmar and Sri Lanka signed an agreement on mutual exemption of visas for diplomatic and service passport holders of the two countries and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in tourism.
The Sri Lankan president also visited the former capital Yangon and unveiled a bronze plaque of Mitta Village in cyclone-hit Kungyangon township, Yangon division, which was established and donated by Sri Lanka.
Aimed at further strengthening the two countries bilateral ties, Rajapaksa's Burma visit came on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the nations.
They established diplomatic relations on June 7, 1949 and have enjoyed cultural and religious ties since the 11th century.
Both countries are members of the subregional grouping of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), which also comprises Bangladesh, India, and Thailand. Source
For the occasion, Myanmar and Sri Lanka signed an agreement on mutual exemption of visas for diplomatic and service passport holders of the two countries and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in tourism.
The Sri Lankan president also visited the former capital Yangon and unveiled a bronze plaque of Mitta Village in cyclone-hit Kungyangon township, Yangon division, which was established and donated by Sri Lanka.
Aimed at further strengthening the two countries bilateral ties, Rajapaksa's Burma visit came on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the nations.
They established diplomatic relations on June 7, 1949 and have enjoyed cultural and religious ties since the 11th century.
Both countries are members of the subregional grouping of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), which also comprises Bangladesh, India, and Thailand. Source
