Myanmar will hold the first mining summit in Yangon next month, aimed at encouraging foreign partnerships and luring foreign investment, the mining ministry said on Saturday.

Ministerial officials from the mining and investment sectors, geotechnical specialists, foreign mining and exploration companies, commodity traders and investors will participate in the summit to be held in Yangon's Sedona Hotel from July 23 to 25.

Myanmar's new mining laws are expected to be discussed at the summit.

The Southeast Asian country has been encouraging local and foreign investment in the development of such minerals as gold, gems, copper, lead, zinc and tin as well as coal.

At present, foreign firms engaged in mineral exploration in Myanmar come from Australia, China, France, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Russia.