The kinsfolk diplomacy

By Thet Mon Tun

On 25 April 2026, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, visited Myanmar, meeting with Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing and the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Tin Maung Swe at the invitation of the latter.

It was the very first delegation of high-level diplomats visiting Myanmar within a month that the country had established its new government and parliament following the 2025-26 General Election. What is more, Chinese President Xi Jinping was the first to send a congratulatory message to our president, U Min Aung Hlaing, within hours of his election as president. Again, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ms Ma Jia was also the very first ambassador to pay a courtesy call on President U Min Aung Hlaing on 6 April. Furthermore, Special Envoy of the Chinese President Xi Jinping, Jiang Xinzhi, who is also the vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, attended the presidential inauguration ceremony and met President U Min Aung Hlaing on 10 April in Nay Pyi Taw.

It is learned that China’s policy towards Myanmar remains constant in supporting Myanmar’s own development path that suits its national conditions; and supporting Myanmar’s national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. During the visit, Chinese FM Wang Yi also said: “China has always been and will remain a truly reliable friend and partner of Myanmar and is willing to deepen practical cooperation”.

Strategic collaboration for pragmatic benefits

This year marks the beginning of a new chapter for Myanmar and its people under the leadership of the newly elected government. People’s hopes and expectations revive. The previous Thingyan Festival seems a forerunner of Myanmar’s enduring peace, development and prosperity. The Myanmar people, with resilient characteristics, have overcome tests and challenges that came from many directions in recent years. This year’s Thingyan was so emotional, full of peace, joyfulness, and auspiciousness – a signal of a well-prepared eagerness of the nation to proceed to follow the development routes.

This year also marks the initial year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. Both sides are expected to join hands not only in advancing their respective modernization and national rejuvenation processes, but also in promoting regional security, peace and integrity.
China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which was approved in March 2026’s Two Sessions, outlines re-framing and upgrading the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) toward high-quality development. Other areas involve digital infrastructure, green energy, Artificial Intelligence, robotic technology and many priorities.

Simply thought, it is a good opportunity to reconstruct and improve electricity accessibility and infrastructure of Myanmar under strategic cooperation in energy and oil and gas sectors, and implement the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor by taking benefits from the initiation of the 15th Five-Year Plan of China.

“Together implementing the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping (Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative), we would like to build high-quality Belt and Road Initiative for long-lasting China-Myanmar community with a shared future to ensure economic development outcomes for the people,” Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ms Ma Jia remarked during the meeting of the first-quarter of China-Myanmar media briefing held on 26 March 2026 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Yangon.

Pauk-Phaw tie strengthens over time

The world has entered a turbulent hostility. Myanmar firmly supports the global peace proposed by Chinese wisdom. Both President U Min Aung Hlaing and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Tin Maung Swe reiterated that Myanmar firmly supports the four global initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping (GDI, GSI, GCI and GGI) for the well-being of the world; and the four-point proposal put forward by Chinese President for peace and stability in the Middle East, during their meeting with Chinese FM Wang Yi on 25 April.

Moreover, the two countries jointly uphold the Bandung Spirit or the values of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence for preserving world peace and encouraging multilateralism.
This year 2026, also marks the 76th Anniversary of Myanmar-China diplomatic relations. Bound by history, geography and culture, the two intertwined countries and their people enjoy a time-honoured fraternal (Pauk Phaw) tie – a bond that Myanmar reserves only for China in its diplomatic agenda.

“Pauk Phaw” is a Burmese term, meaning “kinsfolk” or “close relatives.” It symbolizes the enduring bond between Myanmar and China, reflecting a friendship that extends over a thousand years. Although formal diplomatic relations were established on 8 June 1950, just a few months after the founding of the New China, exchanges and interactions between these two ancient civilizations had already been taking place for centuries. In 2011, the tie was upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
During the last week’s talks, both sides discussed ways to further strengthen the “Pauk Phaw” relations between Myanmar and China, the building of a Community with a Shared Future, and the momentous acceleration of existing friendly ties and practical cooperation. They reaffirmed to accelerate a pragmatic bilateral strategic partnership and high-level exchanges. They also exchanged views on continued cooperation to maintain peace and stability along the shared border, China’s support for Myanmar’s peace process and socioeconomic development, and increased cooperation based on good neighbourliness in combating online scamming and illegal activities in border areas. Both sides further emphasized mutual support in regional and international arenas and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting mutually beneficial cooperation. Myanmar reiterated its unwavering support for the One China Principle.

Chinese FM stated in the talk with Myanmar’s Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Tin Maung Swe that China would continue to support Myanmar’s peace process and remain a reliable neighbour upon which Myanmar can depend, based on the “Pauk Phaw” friendship.

“Neighbours helping neighbours and building an amicable neighbourhood is part of Chinese tradition and culture”, – Wang Yi said during the press conference held last month in Beijing as part of China’s Two Sessions meetings.

“Neighbour” also in Myanmar culture is often even better than the faraway relatives. It is a blessing that great neighbours are coexisting peacefully, with mutual benefits. People of Myanmar and China will truly carry this fraternal tie to our next generations by sharing weal and woe.

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