Myanmar, Laos Sign Mou On Establishing Sister Cities

Myanmar and Laos have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on establishing sister cities between Myanmar's ancient city of Bagan and Laos' Luang Prabang, the official newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Saturday.

The MoU was signed recently during a visit to Myanmar by Lao Minister of Information and Culture Mounkeo Oraboun at the invitation of Myanmar Culture Minister Major-General Khin Aung Myint.

The plan for establishment of Bagan and Luang Prabang sister cities to boost tourism was initiated during a trip to Laos in November 2007 by Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein and a follow-up discussion on the designation were made during a visit to Vientiane and Luang Prabang by Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu in April 2008.

During Thein Sein's trip to Laos in 2007, matters of building the Mekong Bridge, use of more checkpoints in Wanpon and Mong Maw border regions, visa exemption for those holding ordinary passports, cooperation among CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) and the Greater Mekong Sub-region as well as ASEAN charter were also touched upon.

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