Canada formally opened its embassy in Yangon on Friday, aiming to further promote cooperation between Canada and Myanmar, and between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Visiting Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said the opening of the embassy is to establish long-term relations between the two countries and between Canada and the ASEAN with which Canada is one of the dialogue partners. Canada and Myanmar established diplomatic relations in 1958, but the Canadian embassy with Myanmar were stationed in Bangkok, Thailand ever since. Canada downgraded its relations with Myanmar in late 1988 and imposed economic sanctions, barring trade with Myanmar and banning visas for then Myanmar’s high ranking military officials. The two countries later normalized their relations. In April 2012, Canada suspended most of its prohibitions on trade with and investment in Myanmar in recognition of the Myanmar’s reform progress.
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Diplomatic Briefing 
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