The Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, said that the country will continue to stand as a good neighbor and friend by creating a platform for accelerating the implementation of cooperation projects with China.

The SAC Chairman made the following remarks at the 2025 Chinese New Year, Year of the Snake, held at the Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium 1 in Yangon on the evening of January 25.

China, rather than focusing on the development of its own country, is implementing BRI projects to develop regional countries, including Myanmar, and other countries in the world. Regarding Myanmar, he said that Myanmar attaches great importance to China’s peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation, as it is implementing the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor projects. Myanmar will continue to stand as a reliable and good neighbor and friend of China by creating a platform for Myanmar to accelerate its cooperation projects with China, he said.

The SAC is implementing We are implementing the plans set out in order to return the country to a truly disciplined and democratic path. The successful steps in this process are due to the support and assistance of our strong neighbor, China. He would like to reiterate his gratitude to the Chinese government and all Chinese citizens for their firm support for the maintenance of Myanmar’s independence and sovereignty and their commitment to peace and stability. He also called on the Chinese government and people to continue to assist Myanmar in its peace process and the work being done for the development of the country, the SAC Chairman said.

Myanmar, with its long history with China and the existence of bilateral relations, the Chinese New Year has been designated as an official national holiday starting from 2025 to further strengthen the kinship ties. This designation not only expresses China's deep appreciation for its position on Myanmar, but also strongly supports China's long-term vision and implementation of multilateral unity and cooperation, he said.

In this way, domestic and foreign groups that do not want the friendly relations between our two countries are using various methods to divide them, and the officials and citizens of our two countries need to pay special attention to this. Therefore, the Myanmar people, the Chinese-Myanmar associations in Myanmar, the Myanmar citizens of Chinese origin, and the Chinese citizens working in Myanmar should work together with the spirit of patriotism and coexistence, and make every effort to ensure that China and Myanmar continue to be strong and lasting good neighbors and good friends, he said.

Then, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Myanmar delivered a New Year's greeting, saying that in recent years, the two countries have maintained good progress in exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as culture, tourism and religion exchanges. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar. With the care of the leaders of the two countries, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries will produce more fruitful results, achieve new progress in building a community of shared future, and create more development opportunities for the two peoples. In the New Year, we will continue to work together as bricks and sand in building a China-Myanmar community of shared future, and jointly build a beautiful future for China and Myanmar.

At the ceremony, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Myanmar and the dignitaries and officials welcomed the SAC Chairman and his wife.

Then, Union Ministers U Tin Oo Lwin, U Min Naung and U Htun Ohn, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, diplomats from Chinese Embassy, Myanmar-China Buddhist and Cultural Exchange Group Chairman, Multi-ethnic Unity Group Coordinator, Myanmar Chinese Merchants Federation Chairman, Yunnan Social Welfare Association Chairman, Fuqing Chinese National Association Chairman, and Chinese Association Chairmen cut the ribbon to open the opening ceremony of the Chinese New Year Festival (2025), Year of the Snake.

Then, the SAC Chairman and his wife and the Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar were welcomed by eight lions and greeted with traditional Chinese New Year scarves.

Then, the SAC Chairman and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Myanmar opened the New Year Festival ceremony by pressing the button.

Then, the Golden Dragon Chinese New Year Festival kicked off with a Shaolin monk delivering a New Year's message and praying for the strengthening of China-Myanmar friendship. The SAC Chairman and his wife, along with those attending the ceremony, watched a Shaolin Kung Fu demonstration.