Myanmar forges diplomatic ties with Timor-Leste

YANGON, Sept 30, 2006 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Myanmar has established diplomatic ties with Timor-Leste at ambassadorial level as part of its move to enhance its foreign relations, state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported Saturday.

An agreement on the establishment of diplomatic ties was signed by U Nyan Win, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar and Jose Luis Guterres, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, in New York on Sept. 26, it said.

Timor-Leste is the first country with which Myanmar has forged diplomatic ties so far this year, bringing the total number of countries with which Myanmar has diplomatic links to 93 since it regained independence in 1948.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Myanmar has so far set up embassies in 30 countries and two permanent missions in New York and Geneva, and three consulates-general in China's Hong Kong and Kunming and India's Calcutta, respectively.

Meanwhile, 28 countries have their embassies in Myanmar. In addition, China and India have respectively set up consulates- general in Myanmar's Mandalay, while Switzerland in Yangon and Bangladesh in Sittway.