The following are excerpts of the discussions of Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing under the heading “the Asia-Pacific Region in the Context of Global Politics” at the 9th Moscow Conference on International Security-2021(MCIS-2021).
I pray auspiciousness for all the participants of the 9th Moscow Conference on Internati-onal Security-2021(MCIS-2021).
Asia-Pacific Region is a vitally important area in the world in terms of geopolitics. The region possesses nearly one third of the global market and is a place where main maritime routes are located. Over 100,000 ships are sailing across the Indian Ocean and 70,000 ships pass through the Malacca Strait every year. It is also a vitally important area for transport as USD-1 trillion worth of goods flow through it. Eighty percent of global oil exports are transported through the Indian Ocean and about 40 percent of global trade passes through Malacca Strait.
So, the region that is important in geopolitics and geoeconomics has become the world’s economic centre of gravity. It has also been designated as a strategically important region of new world political order. However, strategic competition has much impact on the security of the Asia-Pacific Region that is the core of the globally development opportunities. Strategic changes in security of the Asia-Pacific Region have strong relations with the political situation of the countries in the area.
Negative impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on economy and human health, cyberspace and hightech advancement have become every country’s problems. Emergence of groups in the region and rising rivalry between them are surfacing as conventional and unconventional security issues which are challenges for development of the Asia-Pacific Region.
Efforts for economic integration amidst the rivalry between global powers serve as a step towards shaping a better future of the region. Promotion of economic cooperation in the region will reshape the globalization process in addition to reducing the diversity among the countries. Moreover, it will be much helpful for the UN Sustainable Development Goal.
At present, countries across the world including the ASEAN are encountering the economic crises. As peoples from the respective countries are facing the difficulties of basic needs, now is time to prioritize providing necessary assistance to attend their basic needs.
It is necessary to prioritize more cultivation and production of primary staple foods such as rice and wheat for the people in the agriculture sector with the aim of ensuring food sufficiency of the people. Moreover, efforts should be made for extending cultivation of other crops for the humans on one hand. It is necessary to use renewable energy such as hydropower, windmill electricity and solar power.
It is seen that regional grou-ping, military expansion, stra-tegic and economic rivalry of powerful countries in addition to competitive implementation of national interests and compe-titive military-buildup would be fueling the conflicts in the Asia-Pacific Region.
Every independent country has sovereignty regardless of its size and power. They all have equal rights. All the countries throughout the world need to safeguard their sovereignty, and they all have the rights to safeguard it. But, it is necessary to avoid the acts of staging the threats with strength and encroaching on sovereignty of other countries with the wrong concept over the rights. The countries need to frankly cooperate with other countries and regions.
China is implementing the Belt and Road Initiative with enhancement of cooperation with countries from the Asia Pacific Region. The ASEAN region is located in the area linking the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and as a centre of the Indo-Pacific Region. Regional countries need to focus on peace, stability, security and prosperity. More over, those countries need to realize the mutual respect over the sovereignty, mutual under-standing and non-interference in internal affairs of any country.
In the efforts for ensuring peace, stability, equality and balanced development in Asia-Pacific Region, we must pro-mote trust building by avoiding situations leading to conflict or confrontation and streng-then non-military cooperation including Covid-19 prevention, control, treatment and vaccination.
Some countries with unilate-ralism are resorting to various ways to exert their influence on different political systems and ideologies. In the name of democracy and human rights, they are interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign nations. The international community needs to work together for global peace, stability and sustainable develop-ment based on equality, value and fair and just international laws.
Currently, Myanmar is trying to be politically stable and peaceful. Our government just took measures to bring honesty back to our democracy.
As a member of ASEAN, Myanmar is fully cooperating in the efforts for regional peace, stability and development by following the ASEAN ways and standing.
