28 April

Myanmar is located in a strategic position at the intersection of two of the world’s most important emerging markets, China and India.

Also, Myanmar is central to China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative-BRI. Myanmar is in the middle of all of this because the Maritime Silk Road must pass through Myanmar.

Even before the introduction of BRI in 2013, Myanmar and China had already concluded MoUs on a number of infrastructure projects, including oil and gas pipelines connecting Myanmar to Yunnan Province in China.

Two years on, after the first Belt and Road Forum, Myanmar has completed the signing of the MoU on Jointly Building the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor, and also agreed to set up an Economic Cooperation Zone at selected border posts to assist in trade and investment.

The Myanmar-China economic corridor, a part of the Belt and Road Initiative, requires large investments. Thus, it is crucial to persuade the private sector to participate, in the form of a public-private partnership (PPP).

Understanding the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative, Myanmar is making the necessary investments to improve its infrastructure.

When it comes to making and receiving investments, a win-win situation is important for both sides, and all need to work together to achieve it.

The government has been making strenuous efforts to improve connectivity within our own country by placing emphasis on the improvement of our infrastructure, in particular, the constructions of roads, ports and railways, as well as electrification.

The BRI is about investments and connectivity in Asia, particularly China and, hence, Myanmar, can take advantage of that by plugging some of the infrastructure gaps that we have.

We believe that the BRI projects selected, in line with our national plan and priorities, will contribute to our endeavours for the improvement of much needed infrastructure that will not merely enhance domestic connectivity, but also improve cross-border connectivity.

For development to be sustainable, it needs to be clean and green, to ensure an environment that is conducive to healthy growth and living.

We believe that high-quality cooperation can only be assured by building consensus among participating countries in adherence to agreed guiding principles, including the five principles of peaceful coexistence.

The projects should not only be economically feasible, but also socially and environmentally responsible and, most importantly, they must win the confidence and support of local peoples.

GNLM