‘Myanmar has introduced significant political and economic reforms since 2011 after decades of isolation’

Ambassador Thura Thet Oo Maung of Myanmar in Seoul said that the Myanmar government has introduced significant political and economic reforms since 2011 after decades of isolation. “Notably,” he said, “Madam Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party has won a landslide victory in November 2015.”

Ambassador Maung made the statement at a reception he hosted at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Jan. 8, 2017 in celebration of the 69th Anniversary of the Independence of the Union of Myanmar.
In spite of the fact that the day of the reception was Sunday, an estimated 400 Korean and international guests attended the reception, including ambassadors and other senior diplomats. The number, one guest said, should be tantamount to several more hundred guests in view of the fact that it was a holiday (Sunday) when many people would rather go on picnic or to other merry-making events than attending formal functions.

The guests included Deputy Minister Choi Jong-moon of Foreign Affairs Ministry for Multilateral and Global Affairs, Ambassador Lee Baek-soon of Speaker's Office National Assembly and other Korean government dignitaries and civic figures, including President Hyeok Chung of Ittomore Dental Clinic, Director Richard Lee Sungbok of Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital, Chairman In-Chul Park of Seinvia and President Gunsick Lee of CMSK. From the media came many senior journalists who included Vice Chairman Choe Nam-suk of The Korea Post media.

From the Seoul Diplomatic Corps came many ambassadors who included Ambs. Huu Chi Pham of Vietnam, Yip Wei Kiat of Singapore, Dato Mohd Rosli Sabtu of Brunei Darussalam, Sarun Charoensuwan of Thailand, Khamsouay Keodalavong of the Lao Republic, Chaim Choshen of Israel and Raul S. Hernandez of the Philippines.

There were traditional Myanmar dance performed by a Myanmar dance troupe where the performers were clad in various colorful traditional dresses of Myanmar which were an exhotic beauty and a treat to the eye of the audience. They were accorded a warm response from the guests.

Excerpts from the speech of Ambassador Maung:
It is my great pleasure and honor to welcome you all to the 69th Anniversary of the Myanmar Independence Day of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. I also would like to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Choi Jong-moon for honoring the occasion with his presence which clearly displays the existing friendly bonds between Myanmar and the Republic of Korea.

Today, we have gathered here in order to celebrate the Independence Day of Myanmar. It is the day when we got independence from the colonial rule after many years of hard struggle. We celebrate the Independence Day every year to remember and motivate genuine patriotism and true Union Spirit, which eventually led to the nation’s independence on 4 January 1948 when national sovereignty was regained.
Myanmar has had diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea since 1975 and now it has been over 40 years. The relations between the two countries are stronger and getting closer because of improvement of the economic, social, cultural cooperation year by year. Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations many years ago, Myanmar and Korean governments have been striving to enhance the relationships between our two countries existed earlier before the formal establishment of the diplomatic relations.

Taking this opportunity to be in this podium, I would like to update the political developments in Myanmar. Myanmar’s government has introduced significant political and economic reforms since 2011 after decades of isolation. Notably, Madam Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party has won a landslide victory in November 2015. After that, the formation of a new government became a crucial stepping stone and major turning point in Myanmar history. I have no doubt that with the reform processes currently being implemented by the Government for the all-round development of the country, trade and investment relations between the two countries will be much more enhanced.

Myanmar has many favorable factors to attract foreign investors’ attention, such as its strategic location between economic giant countries, abundant land and water sources, young population and labor resources. Furthermore, Myanmar is rich in natural resources and there is an immense potential for direct investment from abroad and a series of economic reform measures has already taken place. The Republic of Korea is one of the largest investors for Myanmar and many Korean investors are planning to invest more and closely cooperate with Myanmar partners to gain mutual benefits through sharing experience.
Although Myanmar is a resource rich country, it still needs to develop technologies and also needs economic aids and foreign direct investments to further develop its economy. At the same time, the Republic of Korea has a great popularity for advanced technologies. Therefore, mutual benefits can be achieved through closer economic cooperation between Myanmar and the Republic of Korea.

Before I conclude, I would like to express my profound thanks to the friends of Myanmar Embassy who have supported this occasion and all distinguished guests for sharing time out of your busy personal and professional schedules.
As an Ambassador of Myanmar to the Republic of Korea, it is my honor to try my best and fully convinced that the existing bilateral relations and cooperation between our two countries will be further consolidated for the mutual benefits and people-to–people contacts in the years ahead.