The special envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Foreign Minister of the Philippines, Theresa Lazaro, has held a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Burma, Tin Maung Swe, in the framework of an official visit to the country focused on the civil war and on strengthening access to humanitarian aid.
"The parties have met to discuss the humanitarian situation and ways to further expand the delivery of aid to affected and hard-to-reach communities, as well as the overall implementation of the Five-Point Consensus", indicated the Philippine Foreign Ministry in a statement in which it refers to the 'road map' agreed upon by ASEAN in 2021.
During the talks, both delegations also addressed the state of bilateral cooperation, while Lazaro stressed the need to "restore the rights and original role" of Burma within ASEAN at a time when the country is trying to normalize its relationship with the regional bloc.
Despite the fact that Lazaro had requested to meet with the Nobel Prize winner and 'de facto' former leader of the country, Aung San Suu Kyi, currently imprisoned, the Philippine minister has not managed to hold said meeting, although she has received data indicating that she "is well", according to information from the news portal Irrawaddy.
Philippines is currently holding the rotating Presidency of ASEAN and has reiterated the relevance of being able to maintain direct contact with Suu Kyi, 81, an issue that continues to generate tensions within the regional organization.
The Philippine Foreign Ministry has also indicated that on Wednesday, coinciding with the start of her trip, the head of diplomacy visited the state of Shan, where she verified on the ground several humanitarian programs aimed at assisting people displaced by the internal armed conflict.