The 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War was celebrated only in Russia. In reality, this patriotic war is not something that concerns only Russia. In the past, the world faced extreme ideologies like fascism and Nazism. This war was about resisting and fighting against those isms. With regard to resisting fascism and Nazism, you all know it’s something we in Myanmar also experienced. We suffered under the brutal consequences of fascist rule. The people of Myanmar were also oppressed. Likewise, many neighbouring countries suffered from the impacts of fascism too. For example, if you want to understand the horrors of fascism in Myanmar, there is a novel called Ngba. Read it. This is based on true events written with reference to real incidents and historical context. Likewise, even in our neighbouring country, China, there have been massacres like the Nanning Massacre. Similarly, in Eastern Europe, Russia was one of the countries that fought against the Nazi regime with great emphasis. Around 26 million of their people lost their lives. Even by today’s population standards, that number — 26 million — is a huge loss of life. That’s why they celebrate it as a victory. That was history from the past. Looking at present-day history, what we often talk about now is the rise of neocolonialism. In modern times, there is economic domination. Major powers constantly have the desire to dominate smaller nations. We need to unite and resist these things. I want to say that we must join forces and stand against them.

In this regard, the Myanmar Tatmadaw also participated in this 80th anniversary ceremony for the first time. We organized events, held military parades, and participated in commemorative marches. Through this, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has demonstrated that, in line with international armed forces, we are a military capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with others. First, it shows that the Myanmar Tatmadaw are a competent and capable force on par with international standards. Second, it clearly proves that our Tatmadaw can perform tasks at the same level as other international militaries. In our country, it has long been said that “a strong Tatmadaw makes a strong nation.” Some people, who wish to diminish the role of the Tatmadaw, have spoken against this idea. But look at the present era — for a country to have firm sovereignty and to uphold its national dignity and prestige, a strong defence capability is essential. A strong Tatmadaw is necessary. To firmly uphold our sovereignty, we must have a respectable and capable defence force. This is something that all citizens across the nation must understand, recognize, and take pride in. We must strive to realize these goals. And I want to say that we have had the opportunity to do so.

When meeting with the President of China, I wanted to express just three key points on behalf of Myanmar. First, China stands firmly and supportively with Myanmar as a good neighbour when it comes to Myanmar’s sovereignty and national development. Second, regarding Myanmar’s internal peace process, China continues to uphold and practise its policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Moreover, both our countries adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which promote living together peacefully and respectfully. Since China is a neighbouring country and also serves as a western gateway for Myanmar, it views Myanmar’s internal peace process from a positive perspective. It hopes for a peaceful outcome and is actively supporting efforts toward achieving peace in Myanmar. We have received assurances that China will continue to support these efforts going forward.

Third, it is about our election. Regarding the election, the Prime Minister has already spoken about Myanmar’s multiparty democratic general election, saying that it will be held at the end of this year. From China’s side, we have seen support in relations to the preparations for the election. What I want to share as good news is that the multiparty democratic general election, which the people of Myanmar have long yearned for, will be held. The multiparty democratic system is something we have had thanks to the efforts of the Tatmadaw since the past. Due to election fraud, the Tatmadaw assumed state responsibility. Now, I would like to share the good news that we will continue to implement the multiparty democratic system that the people of Myanmar desire. The first main point I want to talk about is the political parties. In the area of political parties, there is a need to make preparations in advance. Then, it is necessary to educate and inform the public. I want to say clearly that, from my point of view, this is the number one priority we must continue to work on. The second point is about the public. Regarding the public’s role, we have already stated that we want a multiparty democratic election system. If we truly want a multiparty democracy, then holding peaceful and fair elections is a fundamental requirement. In order to conduct these elections peacefully, I urge the entire public to cooperate and support the process. I also want to clearly say that we must firmly stand against terrorism, which is the opposite of democracy.

As for the relationship between Russia and Myanmar, it has been long-standing. It is a strong and stable relationship. The initial relationship started with military-to-military cooperation. It began during the time of the previous Tatmadaw government, under the State Peace and Development Council and continued under the State Administration Council. At present, the relationship between Russia and Myanmar has developed not only in the Tatmadaw sphere but also in various other sectors. It is continuing to grow. So, when we arrive in Russia — or when we are in Russia — we can see this clearly. I’m not just talking about government-to-government or military-to-military ties. I mean people-to-people relations as well. The perception of the Myanmar people toward the Russian people, and vice versa, has improved and become stronger. I believe this is something we both desire, and I feel proud of it. During the Prime Minister’s visit to Russia, it coincided with Russia’s 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic Victory. Many national leaders attended that event. While many leaders were present, our Prime Minister, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, had the opportunity to meet and speak with them. Through these meetings, he was able to help them better understand the situation in Myanmar. He was able to share the true events happening in Myanmar. To put it simply, he succeeded in making the international community understand Myanmar more clearly.

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