A reception marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was held at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon Region, on the evening of September 22, with Vice President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Daw Nan Ni Ni Aye in attendance.

At the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ms Ma Jia, the Defence Attaché and embassy officials welcomed the Vice President and other guests. They then toured exhibitions showcasing Myanmar-China friendship.

The ceremony began with the national anthems of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the People’s Republic of China, followed by a welcome address by the Chinese ambassador to Myanmar.

In her speech, Vice President Daw Nan Ni Ni Aye said Myanmar and China are good-neighbourly and friendly countries sharing a long common border. She said the two countries have, through successive periods, worked to strengthen close cooperation and partnership based on mutual respect, understanding and genuine good-neighbourliness in accordance with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

She added that Myanmar and China are also countries with “pauk-phaw” friendship that provide mutual assistance and support to each other whenever needed.

The Vice President said the two countries have deepened comprehensive cooperation in various sectors and promoted mutual understanding. Strategic comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, particularly cooperation under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor within the Belt and Road Initiative, has also been further promoted, she said.

She encouraged the two countries to further strengthen not only trade and investment but also people-to-people connectivity in areas such as culture and education in the coming years.

The Vice President also expressed appreciation for the Chinese government’s continued support for Myanmar’s efforts toward peace, stability and national development, as well as its positive support for Myanmar at regional and international forums, particularly within ASEAN and the United Nations.

On the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, she extended wishes for the continued development and prosperity of China and for the enduring “pauk-phaw” friendship between Myanmar and China.

Vice President Daw Nan Ni Ni Aye and the Chinese ambassador then jointly cut a cake commemorating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and posed for a group photo with the attendees. The Vice President subsequently joined the guests for dinner.

During the dinner, an art troupe from China’s Yunnan Province and embassy staff presented traditional cultural dances and musical performances.

The event was attended by Deputy Speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw Jeng Phang Naw Taung; Union Ministers Lieutenant General Phone Myat and U Than Maung; the Speaker of the Region Hluttaw; senior military officers; the Yangon Region Command Commander and their spouses; chairpersons and officials of the International Relations Committees of the Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw; regional ministers; Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ms Ma Jia; ambassadors, chargés d’affaires and defence attachés from foreign embassies in Yangon; and invited guests.