President U Thein Sein ceremonially handed over the position of the ASEAN chair to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the end of the 25th ASEAN Summit at the Myanmar International Convention Centre in Nay Pyi Taw on November 13.
14 November 2014| Written by Win Ko Ko Latt, Theingi Tun | Published in Myanmar
After a year as the ASEAN chair, Myanmar has handed over the position to Malaysia for 2015.
President U Thein Sein ceremonially handed over the position of the ASEAN chair to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the end of the 25th ASEAN Summit at the Myanmar International Convention Centre in Nay Pyi Taw on November 13.
Malaysia officially takes up the chairmanship as of January 2015. U Win Aung, president of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry handed over his ASEAN Business Advisory Council or ASEAN-BAC presidential role to Dr Mohd Munir Bin Abdul Majid of Malaysia.
“The ASEAN Community to be established in the coming year will be a milestone for ASEAN. At that time, the ASEAN people will enjoy the privileges of the ASEAN Community and have to prepare to face new challenges,” President U Thein Sein said at the closing ceremony of the ASEAN Summit.
During its tenure, Myanmar strove to prepare the ground the ASEAN Community. Malaysia is set to continue this process in 2015.
Myanmar held the motto for ASEAN: “Marching Forward in Unity to a Peaceful and Prosperous Community.” Malaysia will use: “Our People, Our Community, Our Vision.”
Myanmar joined ASEAN in 1997. After 17 years of membership, it took up the chair of ASEAN in 2014 for the first time.
Myanmar was due for the ASEAN chair in 2006 but it missed the chance due to pressure from the international community over human rights violations.