Ottawa, July 14 (IANS) Canada will open an embassy in Myanmar, said Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.
No date was set yet, but Baird told reporters Friday on a conference call from Bangkok that Canada would work closely with the government of Myanmar "in the coming weeks and months" to open the diplomatic mission, reported Xinhua.
The minister said that "Canada continues to be encouraged" by the changes taking place in Myanmar, and expressed hope that "this announcement will build on other positive developments in our relations".
The Canadian move comes on the heels of the arrival in Myanmar of Derek J. Mitchell, the first US ambassador to the country since 1990. Mitchell presented his credentials Wednesday, while Washington also eased most of its sanctions against Myanmar the same day.
In April, Canada suspended most of its prohibitions on trade with and investment in Myanmar in recognition of the "incredible amount of reform" that has occurred in the country over the past 18 months.
Although there are no details yet of Canada's plans for its embassy in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, the Southeast Asian country already has an embassy in the Canadian capital Ottawa.
And despite the Friday announcement, Canada's Foreign Affairs Department has warned Canadians to exercise a "high degree of caution" when travelling to Myanmar where the political situation is said to be "volatile" with "always a possibility of civil unrest".
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