56th ASEAN Day: SAC Chairman Prime Minister sends message

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing sent a message on the occasion of the 56th Anniversary of the Association of the South East Asian Nations falling on the 8th of August 2023.

Through his message, the Senior General extended his warmest greetings and best wishes to the people of Myanmar and the peoples of the Member States of ASEAN. He also extended his best wishes for the success of the Association in the ever-changing global arena for the betterment of the people of the ASEAN Member States.

A growing number of countries eager to engage with the ASEAN by acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and an increasing number of external parties with various statuses of partnership also show the continued relevance of ASEAN’s fundamental principles at the international level.

The Association needs to be more forward-looking and finely united in solving common traditional and non-traditional challenges such as natural disasters, emerging infectious diseases, transnational crimes, terrorism and food and energy security. To successfully attain the goals set out, all the member states need to be mindful that ASEAN’s centrality, unity and solidarity must be upheld based on the fundamental principles and norms of the Association as stipulated in the ASEAN Charter.

The Association must also be more transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional architecture to avoid the turbulences which could threaten its centrality and steering roles in the ASEAN-led mechanisms. As a responsible member of the Association, Myanmar has been fully cooperating with the ASEAN Member States in implementing ASEAN Community Blueprints, regional integration and community building. Myanmar never fails to fulfil its legal, financial and functional obligations, especially actively coordinating for the success of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations and contributing to ASEAN Community building efforts across all pillars and sectors.

On this auspicious occasion of the 56th anniversary of the Association, the Senior General also wished to reaffirm the dedication to realizing the purposes and principles enshrined in the ASEAN charter and reiterate the determination to cooperate with other ASEAN member States in support of constructive efforts of the organization for peace and prosperity of the peoples in the region.