12 January 2024:

H.E. Mr. Alounkeo Kittikhoun, Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chairman met with Dr. Md. Monwar Hossain, Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar at the Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon today (12 January 2024, Friday). Mr. Kittikhoun was appointed as special envoy to Myanmar as Lao PDR assumes Chairmanship of ASEAN from 01 January 2024. This is the first visit of the special envoy to Myanmar. 

The special envoy, during the meeting, briefed the Ambassador of his meetings with the SAC Chairman, Government officials and other stakeholders in Myanmar. Mr. Alounkeo shared the ASEAN Chairman’s views on the implementation of the five-point consensus, the issues related to the repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar from Bangladesh. Bangladesh Ambassador expressed his hope that the ASEAN Chair will continue to play further positive role to facilitate repatriation of more than 1 million displaced people from the Rakhine State of Myanmar. Ambassador and the Special Envoy have agreed to closely working on the issue throughout 2024.

Mr. Alounkeo Kittikhoun is a Laotian diplomat who served as Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office during 2016-2020 and as Lao Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York during 1993-2007.