Myanmar to mark 60-year-old peace principles

The Myanmar Foreign Ministry organized a function to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which falls on Saturday.
In his opening address at the commemorative function, Myanmar Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Thant Kyaw recalled the messages by leaders of China, India and Myanmar on the same day in which they reaffirmed their commitments to adhering to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and expressed their strong desire to expand and deepen the long term constructive and cooperative partnership.
Based on the Five Principles, the leaders of the three countries have expressed their willingness to uphold sovereign equality, achieve win-win cooperation, pursue common security, uphold fairness and justice and advocate a multi-polar world, he said.
Chen Chen, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy, stressed in his speech that the Principles have long been held as the cornerstone of China's independent foreign policy of peace, adding that China seeks to develop friendship and cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which stand for mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, were initiated by China, India and Myanmar 60 years ago.
Chen ensured that China will enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with other parties and build a community of shared destiny with common progress and development interests shared by all.
China will work actively with other parties to build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st century maritime Silk Road and advance the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor, he noted.
At the commemorative ceremony, Sailas Thangal, Charge d' Affaires of the Indian Embassy, said that the main joint celebration by leaders of the three nations in Beijing on Saturday demonstrates the resolve of the three countries to carry forward and reiterate the importance of the Principles and stay committed to realization of peace and development in the present times.
U Ko Ko Hlaing, the chief political advisor of Myanmar President's Office, said in an interview with Xinhua that the strength and good characteristics of the Five Principles have remained unchanged though there are many strategic changes and problems faced by the world during the 60-year period.
Over the past 60 years, the Five Principles have withstood the test of international vicissitudes and has been widely accepted and observed by the international community.
"We firmly believed that the Five Principles will be useful and beneficial to all in the future," he said.
Attending the function were government officials, parliamentarians, diplomats, members of Myanmar-China Friendship Association and representatives of the civil society.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Myanmar President U Thein Sein and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari gathered in Beijing on Saturday to mark the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.