Name: Ye Min Oo, Director, Central News Bureau, Shwe Than Lwin Media Company Limited,Myanmar

Title: Access to the Belt and Road Initiative: Myanmar Media Point of View

Abstract

Myanmar leaders understood well the good objectives and measures regarding the Belt and Road Initiative.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of Myanmar, showed clearly that Myanmar’ support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative along the ancient Silk Road while she met Chinese President Xi Jinping on August 19, 2016, in Beijing. She also supported the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor. Like other developing countries, Myanmar is still facing obstacles and challenges for her peace and development although the country’s democratization process is in progress.

With regard to Myanmar, China has endeavored to cooperate in this initiative. For example, before Myanmar election, on May 2015, Myanmar President U Thein Sein met Chinese State Councilor Yang Jing at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, in which Yang said China will push productive cooperation and connectivity project under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to gain greater achievement in the new era of China- Myanmar relations.

Myanmars’ economic development does not reach a satisfactory level today due to decades of stagnation, mismanagement, and isolation. Most of the countries along with Belt and Road have expressed their aspirations to collaborate for the common and their own interests.

We assumed that as good neighbors, China is planning to expand its power through peace and prosperous ways with good objectives. Although the initiative is based on Chinese interests, it will be beneficial measures for other concerned countries if its implementations are harmonious with an actual action plan. But we have different situations in all sectors. What sector should be the priority to accompany with the initiative as soon as possible? We will build connectivity links firstly through affordable manners.

In order to achieve objectives of the initiative, we should not ignore the media. Media is a key player to enhance the sustainable development in relationship between governments to governments, people to people, and to explore mutual respect and mutual understandings in all aspects among people living in the countries along the Belt and Road. Hence, governments should take into account effective media study tours, media cooperation mechanisms, media forums on the initiative, and media exchange programs. Meanwhile, media and media personnel have the responsibility to push for the initiative in accordance with media ethics.

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