Historic visit to Myanmar

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has today held political talks with President of Myanmar Thein Sein. The ongoing peace process in Myanmar was a key topic at the meeting, and the signals from President Thein Sein on the peace process in the time ahead were encouraging.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and President of Myanmar Thein Sein (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

“I am pleased that the President made it clear during our meeting that the Myanmar authorities will now start a process of political dialogue, and that they intend to hold meetings with the various armed groups with a view to identifying the key issues to be addressed in future political talks. This is another step on the road towards peace for Myanmar as a whole,” Mr Stoltenberg said.

Read the statement from the meeting here.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide are on a working visit to Myanmar. In addition to meeting President Thein Sein, Mr Stoltenberg will meet the Speaker of the Myanmar’s lower chamber of parliament, Shwe Mann, and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. On Sunday, Mr Stoltenberg and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt will open the Norwegian­–Danish embassy office in Yangon.