60th anniversary of Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence marked in Myanmar

A public speech to mark the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence was held at the Myanmar-Chinese Chamber of Commerce here Saturday.

The event, organized by the Myanmar-China Friendship Association, was attended by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Myint Swe and officials of the Yangon region government, representatives from Interfaith Dialogue Group (IDG) and merchants from Myanmar- Chinese Chamber of Commerce totaling about 500.

U Myint Swe underlined that the commemoration of introduction of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence is of very significant, commenting that although the three countries' prime ministers -- Zhou Enlai (China), U Nu (Myanmar) and Nehru (India), have passed away, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, advocated by them, still remain alive.

Chairman of the IDG U Sein Win Aung said that under then complicated international situation, leaders of Myanmar, India and China advocated the Five Principles of Peace Coexistence to prevent the outbreak of new war and conflicts, and safeguard world peace.

U Sein Win Aung, who is also chairman of the Myanmar-China Friendship Association and a retired ambassador, said the five principles have been accepted by Bandung Conference as well as the international community and become important norms of international relations.

U Hla Maung, a patron of the IDG, also a retired ambassador, held that the five principles were of grave significance for they helped to prevent, to some extent, the outbreak of World War III, and contributed to world peace.

Daw Kathleen Thein, a member of the IDG, called for safeguarding the five principles and imparting the principles to the younger generations.

Other speakers include writer Thaung Wai Oo, who is a retired colonel, and U Than Lwin, who is vice President of Kanbawza Bank and IDG member.

As early as in 1954, three countries, China, Myanmar and India jointly advocated the Five Principles for Peaceful Coexistence and in 1955 the five countries initiated the Bandung Conference.