State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and ASEAN Prime Ministers in Mekong region held a cordial meeting with the presidents, vice-presidents and general secretaries of football federations of Myanmar, Thailand, Lao, Cambodia and Vietnam and U-17 captains and exchanged greetings in Tokyo, Japan.

Japanese PM Shinzō Abe said in his meeting, “Football sport relations and cooperation bring about much benefit to further strengthen friendship between Japan and Mekong region countries. I express much delight to see more goodwill and friendship by holding the invitational football tournaments like Japan-Mekong U-17. I wish Mekong region met high standard in soccer sport.”

Zaw Zaw, President of Myanmar Football Federation (MFF), held a discussion with his counterparts of Thailand, Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia and Japan and the vice-presidents as well as the general secretaries about more development in football arena of Mekong regional countries. The discussions highlighted the establishment of Mekong Region Football Federation. Only with the cooperation of Mekong regional countries, will youth tournaments, and men’s and women’s age-wise competitions be successfully held. Their discussion also focused on opening technical instructor and subject-wise courses and holding youth football festivals.   

Afterwards, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and ASEAN Prime Ministers in Mekong region had a group photo together with Zaw Zaw, President of the MFF, Naung Naung Soe, the captain of Myanmar U-17, the captains of Japan-Mekong U-17 football teams, the presidents of football federations of Mekong regional countries and members. After that those present on the occasion exchanged gifts.

Translated and Edited by Win Htut