January 7, 2026
NAY PYI TAW – A delegation led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and Chairman of the National Security and Peace Commission, and HE Ms. Maria Theresa Parreno Lazaro, Special Representative of the ASEAN Chairmanship to Myanmar and Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, met at the National Defense and Security Council Office in Nay Pyi Taw this afternoon (January 6).
During the meeting, they discussed Myanmar’s efforts to optimise cooperation within ASEAN and the good diplomatic relations between Myanmar and the Philippines. Also discussed was the situation in which the country was forced to take responsibility for the massive voter fraud that occurred in the 2020 election and the attempt to seize power through unfair means. Myanmar’s political developments and preparations for a free and fair election and the accuracy of the voter lists, the successful holding of the first phase of the election on December 25, 2025, and the conditions for the continuation of Phase 2 and Phase 3 in the remaining townships to be held, the visit of international election observation teams during Phase 1 of the election, and the Philippines’ participation and positive feedback on the election were also discussed.
In addition, Acting President Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and the Philippine Foreign Minister, who is also the Special Representative of the ASEAN Chairman for Myanmar, discussed the conditions under which the elections in Myanmar will ensure that all Myanmar citizens do not lose their democratic rights, the conditions under which cooperation between Myanmar and the Philippines in the political, economic and trade sectors will be enhanced, and Myanmar will continue to enhance its cooperation within ASEAN to the best of its ability.
The meeting was attended by the Interim President, the Chairman of the National Security and Peace Commission, the Secretary of the Commission, General Ye Win Oo, the Commission member, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe, Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Soe Win, the ASEAN Chairman’s Special Representative for Myanmar, the Philippine Foreign Minister, and officials from the Philippine Embassy in Myanmar.