"“As total poverty eradication is essential for the sustainable development of a nation, I urge all ASEAN members to cooperate in lifting its citizens out of poverty,” he told ministers during a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw. He attributed the current success of the 10-member group in reducing poverty to exchanging experiences and finding new approaches in efforts to fight the problem. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. U Tun Lwin, deputy permanent secretary of the ministry, said the government is implementing people-centred projects with a World Bank loan, among others. “After studying the success in some ASEAN nations, such projects were initiated in Myanmar,” he said. He said the country had seen average economic growth of 6.5 percent in the past few years, and poverty had fallen by 24.8pc. He attributed the growth and poverty reduction to government programmes boosted by support from development partners as well as local and foreign donors..."