Daw Malar Than Htaik, a senior officer of the foreign ministry, represented Myanmar alongside ASEAN foreign ministers as the retreat began on January 29, 2024, in Luang Prabang, Laos.

This is the first time since February 2021 that a representative of the State Administration Council has attended an ASEAN foreign minister-level meeting. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting was held three days before the three-year anniversary of the military’s takeover of state power.

Daw Malar Than Htaik, who attended the opening ceremony of the meeting, did not answer reporters’ questions about representing Myanmar at the ASEAN meeting.

Earlier, she was seen chatting with the Thai Foreign Minister and East Timor’s Foreign Minister.

Laos, which has become the first ASEAN chair since 2016, is being watched whether it can resolve the long-standing Myanmar issue.

ASEAN’s diplomatic efforts to resolve the Myanmar crisis have repeatedly encountered obstacles. Little progress has been made regarding the five-point consensus adopted by ASEAN.

Last year’s ASEAN chair Indonesia expressed praise for the constructive discussions held with key organizations in November 2023. However, last year, a former Thai government member decided to meet with ASEAN Foreign Minister U Than Swe, causing differences among ASEAN member countries.

Earlier this month, SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met ASEAN’s Lao Special Envoy Alounkeo Kittikhoun in Nay Pyi Taw.