Mandalay, June 12(AseanAll)  — A handover ceremony was held on June 11, 2025 in the meeting hall of the Mandalay Region government office for the official transfer of 1,575 tonnes of rice, donated by the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China, under the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Programme 3/2024, according to Myanmar News Agency.

The rice was delivered through the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Irrigation of Myanmar to the Mandalay Region government.

Attending the ceremony were ministers and officials from the Mandalay Region government, representatives from the APTERR Secretariat in Thailand, delegates from the Embassies of the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China to Myanmar, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and its Department of Agriculture, chairpersons of district and township administrative bodies, departmental personnel, and earthquake-affected residents.

At the event, U Aung Kyaw Moe, Mandalay Region Minister for Social Affairs, delivered a speech. Following that, U Thura Soe, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, gave a presentation about the APTERR Programme.

Further remarks on the donation were delivered by Dr Choomjet Karnjanakesorn, General Manager of the APTERR Secretariat in Thailand, Ms Kim Weolsoon, a representative from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, and Mr Ouyang Daobing, Counsellor from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

After the speeches, the donated rice under APTERR Programme 3/2024 was formally handed over by the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Agriculture to the Minister for Social Affairs. Representatives from the APTERR Secretariat, as well as the Korean and Chinese embassies, then distributed rice bags to the earthquake-affected residents.

In addition, ministers and responsible officials of the Mandalay Region government presented certificates of appreciation to the donor representatives. One of the earthquake victims also delivered a message of gratitude on behalf of the affected communities.