The Myanmar President’s Office has announced that President Thein Sein and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing met with the British armed forces’ chief of defence staff, Gen. Sir David Richards on June 3 in Naypyidaw where they held discussions on the promotion of a bilateral friendship and sharing experience in Myanmar’s peacemaking process.

Myanmar Union Minister Lt-Gen Ko Ko, Lt-Gen Wai Lwin of the Ministry of Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wunna Maung Lwin and President’s Office Minister Soe Thein also attended the meeting, the statement said.

On its Facebook page, the British Embassy in Yangon said Sir David Robert’s visit involved discussions relating to the armed forces role during a transition to democracy. It said he was also scheduled to meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ethnic leaders and pay a visit to a British WWII cemetery.

Britain’s Foreign Minister William Hague visited Myanmar in January, the first such visit by a UK foreign minister in 50 years.