Yangon, July 9 : Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan on Saturday concluded a three-day mission to combat child trafficking in Myanmar, in his role as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.
In an exclusive interview with AP in Yangon, Chan admitted that his knowledge of the South East Asian nation had been limited prior to his visit.
"We just know Myanmar and Aung San Suu Kyi. That's all. Every time you see news, it's only 30 second or one minute. Then, gone. For me, Myanmar is very new."
The action star arrived in Myanmar on Thursday afternoon and met with officials of the Social Welfare Ministry and members of the Myanmar Police Anti-Trafficking Task Force in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city.
He also visited trafficked children, orphans and HIV positive children.
Chan, who has established 27 schools in China, said the main reason for his visit was to promote the need to protect children, especially against the dangers of trafficking.
He said the issue was not endemic to the region.
"This kind of trafficking thing is not only in Myanmar but also around the world," he said.
Chan has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2004.
He also formed Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation in Hong Kong in 1988 which offers scholarships and support to young people.
The US State Department's annual report on human trafficking says thousands of children in Myanmar are forced to serve in the national army and ethnic military groups.
However, Myanmar signed an agreement with the United Nations last week to ban the recruitment of child soldiers and demobilize those already serving.
