Myanmar attends 12th ASEAN ministers meeting on rural development and poverty eradication

The 12th ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication chaired by the Philippines was held through videoconferencing yesterday morning. A delegation led by Union minister for Co-operatives and Rural Development U Hla Moe, Ministers from the ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretary-General attended the meeting.
At the meeting, Union Minister U Hla Moe, the current chair of the ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication, said Myanmar convened a special ASEAN ministerial meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication on COVID-19 and set six agendas during its chairmanship. In addition, the ASEAN Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Action Plan (2021-2025) was finalized and policy guidelines and strategic processes were set for the mid-year evaluation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Basic Map, he added.
Afterwards, he handed over the chairmanship to the Philippines. Ministers from the ASEAN member countries discussed their policies, ongoing projects and further programmes. Union minister U Hla Moe said the government of Myanmar always emphasize the socio-economic development of the underprivileged and vulnerable people, with a focus on narrowing the development gap between regions and states. At the same time, the national development strategy is giving priority to balanced economic development and accelerating poverty alleviation activities, he continued.
He discussed that the Myanmar Economic Recovery Plan is being drawn up to restore Myanmar’s economy affected by COVID-19 and to create a long-term and prosperous business environment for the benefit of the people. Myanmar is also implementing the SMART village project for the inclusive and sustainable development of rural socio-economic development.
He highlighted the importance to build the capacity to achieve sustainable development goals, to eradicate poverty, and for the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. He affirmed that Myanmar will work together with all ASEAN member states.
ASEAN Ministers discussed national-level and regional-level policy initiatives to create a responsive, sustainable, and inclusive ASEAN community; activities to strengthen rural-urban connectivity; government-private-public cooperation; incorporating climate change and disaster risk reduction and response into rural development and poverty alleviation; inclusiveness of all vulnerable groups; progress on the implementation of the ASEAN Framework for Action for Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (2021-2025); joint efforts of ASEAN countries in the preparation of the ASEAN Rural Development Master Plan. — MNA