YANGON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- An Asia-Europe Senior Officials Meeting (ASEMSOM) is underway in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, starting Thursday, prior to the 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting, Myanmar News Agency reported Friday.
U Kyaw Zay Ya, Permanent Secretary of Myanmar's Foreign Ministry, told the opening of the meeting that last year marked the 20 years of cooperation among ASEM partners, calling for maintenance of the fine tradition of close partnership into the third decade.
He stressed that enhancement of partnership for peace and sustainable development is not only pertinent to Myanmar but is also of importance to nations all over the world, adding that peace and development can only be achieved with collective efforts and enhanced partnership.
Senior officials from the ASEM member states comprising 51 Asian and European countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, the European Union, the Asia-Europe Union and the Asia-Europe Foundation are attending the event.
The 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting is scheduled for November.
