Myanmar, Singapore agree on visa-free travel
Yangon - Starting from December 1, citizens of Myanmar and Singapore need not to apply for visa for travel between the two countries, according to Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
In the statement, the ministry said on a reciprocal basis, Myanmar and Singapore will impose the visa-free travel for up to 30 days.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi at the Presidential House this afternoon. Shortly after their discussion, the visa exemption agreement was signed and exchanged by Myanmar’s deputy foreign minister Kyaw Tin and the ambassador of Singapore to Myanmar Robert Chua.
Aside from the visa waiver, the main topics of the discussion included efforts to boost bilateral investment, establishment of the Singapore-Myanmar vocational training institute, tourism promotion which includes more direct flights between Singapore and Myanmar’s cities, and the review and modernisation of the double taxation agreement signed by both countries in 1999.
Information minister Pe Myint, transportation and communications minister Thant Sin Maung, education minister Myo Thein Gyi and tourism minister Ohn Maung were also present at the discussion.
Lee’s visit from June 7 to June 9, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Myanmar. Aside from the meetings with President Htin Kyaw and Suu Kyi, Lee will meet Lower House Speaker Win Myint, patron of the Union Parliament and speaker of the Upper House Mahn Win Khaing Than, commander-in-chief of defence services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, and chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party and former president Thein Sein in Nay Pyi Taw.
While in Yangon, he will launch the Singapore-Myanmar vocational training institute and attend a reception with Singaporeans.
He last visited Myanmar in November 2014 for the 25th Asean Summit in Nay Pyi Taw.
Last month, Singapore’s foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan visited Myanmar and met with President Htin Kyaw and Suu Kyi. Balakrishnan then said Singapore had a very strong sense of optimism for the future of Myanmar and would stand as a partner with the nation’s new transformation. He said that Singapore was very optimistic for transformation in the fields of agriculture, industrialisation, as well as opportunity to work closely together in education and health care.
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