Asean members warm towards Myanmar, raising hopes it could come in from the cold

Sentiment is warming among some Southeast Asian members towards easing Myanmar’s isolation five years after a coup, with diplomats signalling a possible opening to bring…

Sentiment is warming among some Southeast Asian members towards easing Myanmar’s isolation five years after a coup, with diplomats signalling a possible opening to bring the crisis-torn nation back into the fold.

Southeast Asian foreign ministers have agreed to a virtual meeting with their Myanmar counterpart, according to Asean’s secretary general on Thursday.

In an interview during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit ‌in the Philippines on Thursday, Kao Kim Hourn said Myanmar had indicated it wanted to normalise ties with the 11-member grouping, but its neighbours wanted to see progress on de-escalation, dialogue and aid access.

“It’s very clear that today the Asean foreign ministers agree that there will be an engagement with Myanmar, with the foreign minister of Myanmar, that they will have a virtual meeting coming up in the very near future,” he said.

Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow (left) talks to Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing during a meeting in Naypyidaw on April 22. Photo: Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AFP

He said the possibility of creating a special envoy for Myanmar with ‌a remit beyond one year was part of an ongoing discussion, with some “adverse issues” that needed to be addressed. He did ⁠not elaborate.

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