State Counsellor attends 1st meeting of Steering Committee for Implementation of BRI

STATE Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson of the Steering Committee for the Implementation of BRI, attended and made an opening address at the first Meeting of the Steering Committee which was held in Ayeyarwaddy Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nay Pyi Taw, yesterday at 10:00 am. Present at the Meeting were Vice President U Myint Swe, Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee, Union Ministers, Union Attorney General, Union Auditor General, Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council and Chief Ministers who were the Members of the Steering Committee and the officials concerned.

In her opening remarks at the Meeting, the State Counsellor said that the Belt and Road Initiative which was initiated by the People’s Republic of China, was being participated by over 60 countries to cooperate not only in building infrastructure connectivity, but also in many other sectors. She also mentioned that being a country located at the strategic position in BRI, Myanmar would also need to participate in the said Initiative. She hoped that cooperation activities under the BRI could present opportunities to bring benefits not only to Myanmar but to the region as well. She also added that at the same time, it will be necessary to study and scrutinize the proposed projects to ensure mutual benefits to both sides. She also stressed the need to implement the BRI in accordance with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. She also put emphasis on the need to thoroughly scrutinize the projects under BRI from different perspectives both for the short-term and long-term benefits of the country and the people, and to make sure that the selected projects are in conformity with national plans, policies and domestic procedures.
Afterwards, Vice President U Myint Swe, Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee, said that it was of great importance to learn the experiences of other countries in the region in implementation of projects under BRI and to choose the suitable projects and programs which are really necessary for the development of the country, and could really bring benefits to the people.

He also mentioned that it would be more effective if all committees concerned which were established to supervise and implement the BRI projects, could work together hand in hand in close coordination, especially among the State and Region Governments and the Ministries concerned in implementing the projects.

Then, Dr. Than Myint, Union Minister for Commerce, reported the progress on the establishment of Myanmar-China Border Economic Cooperation Zone; U Soe Win, Union Minister for Planning and Finance, reported the progress on the implementation of the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor; and U Kyaw Tin, Union Minister for International Cooperation, reported on the preparation for the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held in Beijing, China in April 2019.

Moreover, the participants of the Meeting exchanged views on the cooperation and activities being undertaken by their respective Ministries under the Belt and Road Initiative. The meeting was concluded after the State Counsellor and Chairperson of the Steering Committee on implementation of BRI gave additional comments and guidance on the discussions.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar