Seminar on 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence held

The Chinese Embassy to Myanmar held a seminar commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence at Wyndham Grand Yangon Hotel on 25 July 2024, with representatives from Myanmar’s political parties, think tanks, University of Foreign Languages (Yangon), media and friendship organizations.
Ms Cao Jing, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy to Myanmar, shed light on the critical elements delivered by President Xi Jinping at the conference marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence held in Beijing on 28 June 2024. Chinese leaders advocated mutual respect for sovereignty & territorial integrity, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence back in history. With Myanmar’s support of the Five Principles in Asia, it helped deepen ties between Asian countries.
The Minister Counsellor highlighted from the important speech addressed by President Xi that if countries follow and carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence regardless of different communities, levels of country development, religions, culture, ideologies and history, they can establish mutual trust and friendly relations and cooperation to build a community with shared future for humankind.
“China has been supporting Myanmar in many sectors (health, education, infrastructure, social, reduction in poverty). China’s Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund contributed to nearly 120 projects in Myanmar. China and Myanmar cooperated to combat transnational telecom and cyber scams for the common interests and security of the people of the two nations. China will encourage Myanmar to restore internal peace and tranquillity with constructive approaches. She also stimulated open, inclusive and effective discussions,” she elaborated.
Union Minister U Ko Ko Hlaing for the Ministry of State Administration Council Chairman’s Office 2 emphasized, “Those Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence play a vital role in the history of Myanmar and China friendship relations. Being committed practitioners of the Five Principles, Myanmar and China have maintained friendly relations for 70 years. Myanmar has been actively participating in the One Belt, One Road Initiative of China, along with cooperation in many areas and people-to-people exchange. I believe that if we accelerate constructive efforts and friendly consultations, we will enhance common interests, bilateral relations, and cooperation. He hoped that China would collaborate with all countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity to maintain peace and prosperity of the world and the future generations.”
Furthermore, U Thant Kyaw, chair of the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies, USDP Yangon Chairman U Khin Maung Soe and U Khin Maung Htay, vice-president of the Myanmar-China Friendship Association and Dr Chaw Chaw Sein, Pro-rector of YUFL, discussed win-win cooperation between Myanmar and China and also appreciated China’s contributions to health, education, infrastructure and other sectors for interest and development of Myanmar people. Participants also agreed to follow the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to maintain peace and stability.
Ms Qiao Li, Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy to Myanmar, delivered a closing remark at the seminar that, as Union Minister U Ko Ko Hlaing said, “Earlier, relatives afar are not as close as neighbours. I had a profound and familiar experience like that proverb during my service for three years in Myanmar. China and Myanmar strengthened strategic multi-sectoral partnerships (such as health, socioeconomic development, economic cooperation, and natural disaster challenges) and deepened the Swemyo Pauk-Phaw friendship to safeguard common interests. China will carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and, implement the Belt and Road Initiative and establishment of economic corridors between Myanmar and China by linking three initiatives, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, together with Myanmar to build a shared future for humankind and achieve development and prosperity.”
In 70 years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have been embraced by the international community and have become basic norms in governing international relations as well as fundamental principles of international law. Humanity stands at the crossroads of history, addressing global threats and challenges. China offers a solution: building a community with a shared future for humanity, proposed by President Xi at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in March 2013. China has established various forms of community with a shared future in dozens of countries and regions. China is advancing efforts to build communities with a shared future in the areas of health, environment, cyberspace, nuclear security, and maritime affairs. According to Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China has been and will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order, citing a report of the CGTN extracted from President Xi’s keynote speech. — KK/TWA