Senior General Min Aung Hlaing expressed special gratitude to the People’s Republic of China and Chinese people for good fraternal relations with standing for Myanmar’s internal issues in the international landscape.
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla joined the ceremony to mark the 2024 Gold Dragon Chinese New Year festival at the National Indoor Stadium-1 in Thuwunna of Yangon yesterday evening.
On the occasion, the Senior General requested China and Chinese people to continuously assist in peace and stability measures and development undertakings of Myanmar, as China and Myanmar has been cementing the society in peaceful co-existence for years through thick and thin.
He highlighted the year 2024 is set as Year of the Dragon in accord with the Chinese tradition, conveying good luck, wealth, great power and boosting business. Hence, grand ceremonies and important decisions mostly take place in the year of the Dragon.
Since China has established, he recounted Myanmar has been holding the One-China policy, showing a strong support of neighbouring country for China. Myanmar earliest supported the implementation of Global Security Initiative– GSI of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He continued Myanmar and China have been cementing the bilateral understanding as good neighbouring countries in accord with Five Peaceful Co-existence Principles built by State leaders of both countries in successive eras and both countries peacefully solved some conflicts in order to sustain firm relations.
Within more than seven years period, he said Mekong-Lancang cooperation fund has covered projects in all sectors for contributing much to its member countries to have socioeconomic development. Myanmar is actively taking part in eradication of transnational crimes, illegal drug production and trafficking, human trafficking, online gambling and online scams, and forging rule of law. He said he believes greater progress will emerge in bilateral cooperation, peace and stability as well as development undertakings in border regions through collaborative efforts of China and Myanmar.
Significantly, he noted the United Nations celebrated the Chinese New Year day starting this year setting the day as the office holiday, showing the trust of global countries over China for its active and unbiased activities in the international issues. The Senior General called for establishment of a peaceful and prosperous society through friendly Paukphaw relations and compassion with China.
The Senior General and wife exchanged gifts with Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Myanmar Mr Chen Hai.
The Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar also extended a New Year greeting, saying that as China and Myanmar poured out concerted efforts in all sectors in previous years, both countries could cement bilateral trust and friendly ties. He pledged to serve interests of both countries and people with peace, fraternity and mutual respect from the New Year period on, cementing the Swemyo Paukphaw relations between the two countries and striving for development of people from China and Myanmar.
On the occasion, the Senior General and wife and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Myanmar pressed the button to open the ceremony. Four celestial beings presented a gold dragon statue each to the Senior General, wife and the Chinese Ambassador.
At the festival, the Senior General, and wife together with attendees enjoyed performance of Chinese traditional dragon dance troupes and presented cash awards to them. They then visited the China Town traditional cultural booths and foodstuff booths.
They watched competitions of selected players from Myanmar Table Tennis Federation and Chinese diplomats in the goodwill table tennis match. The Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs presented flower baskets to table tennis teams.
The Senior General and wife painted the Chinese traditional dragon statue traditionally, and Chinese traditional dragon dance troupe and lion dance troupe performed gold dragon new year dance.
The Senior General and wife had dinner in honour of the Chinese New Year together with dignitaries. During the dinner, cultural troupes from China and artistes from Myawady cultural troupe under the Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare performed Chinese traditional dances, songs, performances and China-Myanmar goodwill songs.
The Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs awarded first and second prize winners in the China-Myanmar goodwill men’s open table tennis tournament to mark the 2024 Chinese New Year festival and the Chief Minister of Yangon Region, joint third prize winners.
The Senior Genera, wife and the Chinese Ambassador presented flower baskets to artistes. After the ceremony, the Senior General and wife cordially greeted the attendees. — MNA/TTA
