Australian governor-general arrives in Myanmar for state visit

Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce arrived at Nay Pyi Taw Monday for a state visit to Myanmar at the invitation of President U Thein Sein. Quentin is expect to hold talks with U Thein Sein on bilateral ties and cooperation. U Thein Sein made a milestone visit to Canberra in March this year, during which he met with then Australian prime minister Julia Gillard, who announced that the country will increase aid to Myanmar in recognition of its reform. As part of a growing aid program, Australia pledged an additional 20 million Australian dollars (20.6 million U.S. dollars) over two years for the first phase of the new Myanmar- Australia Partnership for Reform. Australia's aid program to Myanmar is expected to double in size to 100 million Australian dollars (103 million U.S. dollars) per year by 2015, according to the office of the former prime minister. In July this year, Senator and Foreign Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia Bob Carr visited Nay Pyi Taw, pledging 100 million Australian dollars' grant aid to Myanmar for its education reform this year in addition to the 5 million Australian dollars' aid provided for Myanmar's peace making process with ethnic armed groups. Moreover, Myanmar is also cooperating with the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) under a three-year economic cooperation program from 2013 to 2015. In June 2012, Australia announced lifting of its remaining financial and travel sanctions on Myanmar, while keeping arms embargo in place.