Myanmar president leaves on state visit to Philippines

Myanmar President U Thein Sein left Nay Pyi Taw Wednesday on a state visit to the Philippines, official sources said. U Thein Sein's three-day visit, made at the invitation of his Philippino counterpart Benigno Aquino III, is his first ever one to the Southeast Asian member nation since his assumption to office in March 2011. The two leaders will meet to discuss "issues of mutual concern", particularly trade and investment, agriculture, energy, cultural exchanges, and information cooperation. The two leaders are also expected to touch on regional issues, including Myanmar's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2014. The two leaders once had their first bilateral meeting in Nay Pyi Taw in June when Aquino attended the World Economic Forum on East Asia hosted by Myanmar. Myanmar and the Philippines established diplomatic relations in 1956.