THE Myanmar delegation led by Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko joined the "International Conference on Cultural Property Protection: The Prevention of the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Properties: An ASEAN Perspective" hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia via videoconferencing.

During the first session, the International Meeting and Superior Officials' Meeting were held and attended by Superior Officials, cultural heritage conservation experts of ASEAN countries and experts of NGOs.

During the meeting, the officials exchanged views on challenges to promote the protection of cultural property and combat illicit trade.

They also discussed the brief statement (draft) to be issued at the Meeting of the ASEAN Minister Responsible for Culture and Arts and the Media Statement to be released by Cambodia.

During the second session, the ASEAN Level Ministers' Meeting was held and the leaders discussed the completions, ongoing processes and further work plans to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural properties, challenges and difficulties and advantages of cooperation with international organization.

Then, Union Minister U Ko Ko said Myanmar boasts cultural heritages and tries hard to ensure the sustainability of cultural properties by conserving systematically and socio-economic development.

The country also signed the UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects to work with the members of the UN in accordance with the international criteria in promoting the protection of cultural properties.

Moreover, the country makes a closer relationship at the ASEAN level in addition to the UNESCO level.

The conference, held on 5-6 September, was attended by the experts led by Director-General Dr Kyaw Oo Lwin of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture.

MNA

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