News

Nanning, 3 September 2013

I wish to extend my personal wishes and greetings to the Government and the people of the People’s Republic of China on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit. This year coincides with the 10th Anniversary of the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership that has progressed markedly over the last decade. It is a momentous year for both ASEAN and China as we are moving forward to further promote our relations in all areas.

China is a close neighbor of ASEAN and there is a historic and cultural relations between us. Peoples of ASEAN and China have been visiting each other’s places for centuries. In this globalised world, and with the development of friendly relations between ASEAN and China, increased number of peoples from both sides will be exchanging visits in the coming years.

We are very encouraged to witness the development of multifaceted relations between ASEAN and China. China is the first Dialogue Partner of ASEAN to accede to the treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), and the first country to establish strategic partnership with ASEAN. China’s support to ASEAN Community building and ASEAN’s centrality in the evolving regional architecture have accorded greater confidence to ASEAN in its endeavours to achieve the objectives of ASEAN.

In the economic and trade areas, our region has become a main engine in the global economic. With the establishment of ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, the two way trade between us realized more than 400 billion US Dollars in 2012. We hope to see increase of trade and investments from both sides in the years ahead. In this respect, the China-ASEAN Expo, the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit and the ASEAN-China Centre are playing vital roles for the promotion of trade and investment, and people to people exchange between ASEAN and China.

Myanmar has been participating in the China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summits in the past ten years. I attended the 9th China-ASEAN Expo representing Myanmar as the country of honour last year. To show our continued support to this major event, and to promote friendship between Myanmar and China, I am taking the opportunity of visiting Nanning again this year.

Myanmar will take the Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014. During the time of our Chairmanship, Myanmar wishes to continue to further promote relationship between ASEAN and China. In this respect, we are confident that we will receive support from the government and the people of the People’s Republic of China.

In conclusion, I wish to extend my heartiest congratulations to the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the organizers of the 10th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, for their great efforts, and wish success and continued progress. I also wish to reaffirm our commitment to foster closer cooperation between ASEAN and China in bringing peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.