WB and Asean join hands to help Burma
World Bank and Asean have agreed to cooperate with each other as part of Coalition of Mercy to provide assistance to Burma in the aftermath of the devastating cyclone Nargis, Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said Friday.
In his meeting with World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick, both sides discussed ways to strengthen further their cooperation.
He briefed Zoellick on the status of the ASEAN initiative to provide assistance to Burma and the scheduled special Asean foreign ministerial meeting on 19 May in Singapore.
Surin said World Bank will support the ASEAN Secretariat as it moves forward with its "Coalition of Mercy" with the offer of its expertise in assessing the devastation and planning for recovery.
Both organizations have agreed on a range of initiatives which will be contained in a 13-point, joint work plan that includes a closer cooperation in the Greater Mekong sub-region to
support the new members of ASEAN, joint research on regional integration, infrastructure development, and climate change.
The two leaders also shared information on food prices and on steps the two institutions could take to address the current food crisis.
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