Ambassador LYU Fengding,Mr. U Ko Ko Hlaing, Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning. We are here today to hold the opening ceremony of the International Academic Seminar for the issue of“Myanmar in 2014: Reintegrating into the international community”. This seminar is co-organized by Myanmar Studies Center of Yunnan University,Institute of Southeast Asian Studies of Yunnan University, The Charhar Institute,School of Politics and Administration of the University of Hong Kong, School of International Relations of Yangon University. 

This seminar, initiated by Professor Ian Holliday from the University of Hong Kong, is held around Asia in turn annually. It is the second time that Yunnan University undertakes the academic event and till this year, the seminar has passed eight years.

To begin with, we are extremely happy that School of International Relations of Yangon University could join the hosting team of seminar organization, and their contribution would be of great significance for the success of the seminar as the Topic this year is Myanmar issue studies, in other words, the seminar would barely achieve desired aims without the active participation of target country’s academic institution. In addition, I also feel very excited that The Charhar Institute could co organize the event. The Charhar Institute is a Chinese prestigious think tank of International Relations and Diplomacy whose academic journal quarterly called Public Diplomacy. It has been committed to promoting China’s public diplomacy and gained increasing influence both at home and abroad. 

During this summer vacation, we are honored to invite experts and think tank analysts to join the seminar in Yunnan University. Some of our distinguished guests include, Mr. U Ko Ko Hlaing, Chief Political advisor to the President of Myanmar, Mr. Wunai Xinla, Political advisor to the President of Myanmar, Mr. WuAng Juewu, Consul General of Myanmar Consulate General in Kunming, Mr.Lv Fengding, Chairman of International Counseling committee of the Charhar Institute, Mr. Lv also served as former deputy director of Central Foreign Affairs Office, and he was China’s former ambassador to Nigeria and Sweden.

Professor David. Steinberg of Georgetown University, Professor Ian Holliday of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Daw Chaw Chaw Sein of Yangon University, thank you for your concern and long-term support to the Yunnan University and China’s Myanmar Studies. Here, I extend my warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all the experts and guests on behalf of teachers and students of Yunnan University.

Myanmar, an important neighbor of China, is located in the junction of East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia with critical strategic position. Since Myanmar’s elected government came to power, the western developed countries have been increasing the investment in Myanmar. Thus, the once neglected country has become a new focus in the competition of major powers.

In addition, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plans to establish an integrated community of politics, economy, and culture in 2015. Fortunately, Myanmar succeeds in serving the ASEAN’s rotating presidency this year, so it is evident that Myanmar’s influence in today’s international society is rising.

Another obvious fact of Myanmar is that the political transformation and democratic process since 2012 is likely to be the role model for political transformation in less-developed countries as the movement has generally moved forward smoothly despite of ethnic and religious conflicts, especially compared with those Middle East and North Africa nations who went through a series of uprising of Arab Spring.

Admittedly, since Myanmar’s new government took office, the nation has witnessed fundamentally positive changes, as can be seen from the progress of cities like Rangoon and Mandalay, where people enjoy and share the fruit of reform and are delighted of what is going on in the country.

What is more, Myanmar will hold a new general election in 2015. This election will be definitely under the spotlight of international community. A range of issues concerning the election will be attracting worldwide attention as whether it is fair and free, whether the election results can receive the recognition from home and overseas. These are known as the key factors and critical standards to assessing the effectiveness of the Myanmar’s democratization, and will be of great significance for the sustainable development of social economy in Myanmar. Therefore, I believe that this year’s timely held seminar in Yunnan University and the issues we discuss  will bear particular significance and mark a new starting point for China’s Myanmar studies and China-Myanmar cooperation. 

Next, I would like to take this opportunity to have a brief introduction of Myanmar studies of Yunnan University. Yunnan University has always attached great importance to the study of Myanmar as Yunnan and Myanmar geographically share more than 2000 kilometers of common borders, that is to say, people in Yunnan and Myanmar own similar landscapes and originate from similar cultural backgrounds. Besides, ethnic groups in Yunnan and Myanmar have long been living in harmony. Since April 2002, Myanmar studies as a special research program in Southeast Asian studies in Yunnan University has been granted a variety of manpower and financial support.

In December, 2011, Yunnan University launched the Myanmar Studies center,the world’s second major research institutions of Myanmar Studies. The center of Yunnan University is founded as an interdisciplinary research base, with doctoral and master degree in international relations, world history, world economy, world Ethnicity, and other related disciplines. Since 2008, at the last count, 68 students from Myanmar are studying for bachelor’s and master’s degree in Yunnan university, and more than 50 have finished school and returned to Myanmar. They are all active participants in the social economic development in Myanmar.

In addition, Yunnan University will enroll undergraduates majoring in Burmese language from September this year, and we are happy to see that all three teachers who are teaching Burmese language in Yunnan University are actively engaged in the preparations for the seminar and reception today.

Myanmar Studies Center of Yunnan University is boasted as the most advanced research institutions in China estimated from a wide range of perspectives such as the age of academic team’s, degree of academic researchers, team leaders’influence, and the publications. In terms of basic research, the center has been conducting continuous tracking research for Myanmar’s ethnic history and culture, ethnic groups and issues,   political development and democratization, foreign policy and foreign relations, especially the major issues concerning ChinaMyanmar relationship. Meanwhile, the center takes plenty of research programs regarding Myanmar issue projects, many of which have exerting great impact in China and overseas. For example, the Myanmar annual report issued in 2013 is of great importance in different circles. As regards to application research, the proposal of building oil and gas pipelines between China and Myanmar was submitted and approved by Chinese government, which has made important contribution to promote bilateral cooperation.

In international exchanges and cooperation, the Myanmar Studies Center rests on the guideline of combining “inviting” with “going global”. In other words, the center not only pays attention to the communication and cooperation with various communities in Myanmar, but with western scholars, observers, officials, and NGOs. The Myanmar center today will also sign a cooperation and research agreement with Attached Strategic and International Studies Center of Myanmar Resources Development Research Institute. I believe that the sincere and further cooperation of the two research institutes will promote mutual understanding between people and think tanks in the two countries.

The seminar today is open to all scholars, think tank analysts from international and domestic research institutions as well as students. I truly believe that more in-depth understanding of Myanmar will be achieved, and Myanmar’s research level will reach a new step through guests’insightful discussion. I also expect that the seminar will exert positive impact on Myanmar’s reform and social progress.

To conclude, I wish the seminar a great success and all the guests here enjoy your stay in Kunming. With all the best! Thank you all!