The 8th meeting of the Myanmar National Culture Central Committee was held on the afternoon of 23 July at the Ministry of Religion and Culture in Nay Pyi Taw.
State Administration Council Member Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Defence Admiral Tin Aung San, in the capacity of Chairman of the Myanmar National Culture Central Committee, delivered a speech at the meeting.
Attendees included U Tin Oo Lwin, Vice-Chairman of the central committee and Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture, as well as Union Ministers, who are committee members, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, directors-general, experts, and departmental officials.
Admiral Tin Aung San emphasized the collective responsibility of all Myanmar citizens to preserve the nation’s cultural heritage. He highlighted the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture’s leadership in safeguarding Myanmar’s cultural legacy, ongoing research and mapping efforts to mitigate damage from natural disasters, and the enactment of laws to protect ancient artefacts and buildings.
The meeting also addressed the ongoing repair of the Thatbyinnyu Pagoda, one of the 389 pagodas affected by the earthquake in Bagan on 24 August 2016, under the Memorandum of Understanding with the Cultural Heritage Management Department of the People’s Republic of China.
The Deputy Prime Minister further noted that efforts are underway to pass the Myanmar Museums Law (draft) and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Preservation and Promotion Law (draft) to support the growth of private museums and enhance public awareness.
The committee was urged to diligently identify, preserve, and promote Myanmar’s cultural heritage to maintain the country’s esteemed traditions and standards. The meeting also reviewed the resolutions from the previous 7th meeting and encouraged members to propose and discuss improvements in various relevant sectors to advance cultural heritage protection and conservation efforts.
Union Minister U Tin Oo Lwin, Vice-Chairman of the central committee, discussed the identification and listing of Myanmar’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage for the World Heritage List, upgrades to cultural museums, designation of natural heritage for preservation, and the use of digital technology in managing traditional buildings and Buddhist pagodas.
Deputy Minister Daw Nu Mra Zan reported on the progress of tasks and ongoing activities related to the decisions made at the seventh meeting of the central committee.
The meeting concluded with a discussion on various sectors related to the discovery, preservation, and protection of Myanmar’s ancient cultural heritage and ethnic traditions. Chairman Admiral Tin Aung San issued necessary instructions and urged coordination across all sectors. The meeting successfully concluded following his address. — MNA/TKO
