Manila: Theresa P Lazaro, secretary of foreign affairs of the Philippines and the Asean Chair's Special Envoy on Myanmar, said she is scheduled to make a humanitarian visit to Myanmar in the fourth quarter of this year.
Her confirmation came during the 10th Asean Media Forum, the regional bloc's annual flagship media programme, where journalists from across Southeast Asia met representatives of this year's Asean chair, the Philippines.
Ms Lazaro said this year's chairmanship could prove to be one of the most consequential in recent years.
Tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border, developments in the Middle East, efforts to conclude an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and the crisis in Myanmar have all unfolded against a backdrop of a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, she said.
Referring to the recent informal meeting between Asean foreign ministers and Myanmar Foreign Minister U Tin Maung Swe in Bangkok on July 12, which she also attended, Ms Lazaro said her humanitarian visit to Myanmar is scheduled for the fourth quarter.
Ms Lazaro did not say who she expects to meet in Myanmar, saying details are still being worked out with the Philippine embassy in Yangon.
However, she said the focus of the visit will be the delivery of food and medical assistance to the people of Myanmar.
"We're now in the process of identifying priority areas for assistance, and we expect to determine the specific areas of support by August. Our embassy in Yangon is handling the coordination, while the visit is planned for the fourth quarter," she said.
In her capacity as Asean Chair's Special Envoy on Myanmar, she said she needed to remain cautious and avoid making demands.
However, she said an opportunity to meet detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be significant for the regional bloc.
"It would be very good for Asean because meeting her would put us back on the world map," she said.
