Myanmar-China Ties: Hall Upgrade & Thatbyinnyu Pagoda Restoration

The opening ceremony of the former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai Hall upgrade process at Shwezigon Pagoda in Bagan Archaeological Zone was held on Saturday.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Tun Ohn, Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Than Aung Kyaw, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr. Chen Hai and many other officials.

The Ceremony began with remarks by Deputy Minister U Tun Ohn and the Ambassador Mr. Chen Hai. The former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai Hall donated the hall at the Pagoda during his visit to Myanmar’s Bagan Archaeological Zone in the year of 1961.

It’s learnt that the Premier Zhou Enlai visited Myanmar for 9 times, and, the Chinese visitors to the Bagan Archaeological Zone hold annual celebrations at the Zhou Enlai Hall. On the same day, Deputy Minister U Tun Ohn and the Ambassador Mr. Chen Hai attended the opening ceremony of Thatbyinnyu Pagoda restoration process and gave speeches.

Thatbyinnyu is one of the 389 pagodas and temples in the Bagan Archaeological Zone hit and damaged by an earthquake on the 24th of August in 2016. Myanmar and China on the 22nd of September in 2018 signed an agreement for the restoration of the quake-hit Thatbyinnyu Pagoda.

Since before the rainy season in Myanmar in 2019, Chinese experts have been conducting the restoration works including 3D scanning, ground situation monitoring in nearby areas, murals conservation and waterproofing of terraces.