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Roundup: Myanmar Makes Achievements in Diplomatic Front in 2000
The year 2000 was a year during which the Myanmar government scored relatively greater achievements in its diplomatic front since coming to power in 1988.
The frequent exchange of visits at high level between Myanmar and foreign countries is an important sign of the achievements.
According to incomplete statistics, in 2000, Myanmar leader General Maung Aye, who is vice-chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), visited India, China and Laos. Of them, he toured India twice.
During the year, Myanmar SPDC First Secretary Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt went to Japan and Pakistan, while SPDC Second Secretary Lieutenant-General Tin Oo and SPDC Third Secretary Lieutenant-General Win Myint also visited China successively.
Meanwhile, foreign political and military leaders visited Myanmar one after another during the year, including Cambodian Prime Minister (PM) Hun Sen, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao and State Councilor Ismail Amat. Other foreign leaders and high ranking officials who visited Myanmar last year were the special envoy of United Nations Secretary-General Kofei Annan, the Lao deputy prime minister, the chief of Army of Malaysian Armed Forces, the chief of Indian Army Staff and the supreme commander of Royal Thai Armed Forces.
These visits have deepened their mutual understanding and friendship.
Another fact which signified Myanmar's achievement in the diplomatic front is that the country hosted a series of regional meetings in 2000.
These meetings were the first Retreat Meeting of Economic Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Trade Ministers of East Asia dialogue partners (10+3), 20th ASEAN Police Chiefs' Conference, Third ASEAN Youth Affairs Ministers' Meeting, 8th ASEAN Customs Officials' Meeting, Third ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Forestry, 22nd ASEAN Railways Officials' Meeting, 28th ASEAN Working Group's Meeting on Industrial Cooperation, 35th ASEAN Committee Meeting on Culture and Information and 24th Asia-Pacific Drug Law Enforcement Agency Heads' Meeting.
These meetings has expanded Myanmar's diplomatic space to certain extent, adding to the degree of popularity of the country internationally and enhancing the development of Myanmar's friendly and cooperative ties with foreign countries.
The third sign which showed Myanmar's achievement in its diplomatic front is that it was able to ink many bilateral agreements with some countries in 2000.
These agreements included the agreement signed with China on bilateral cooperation in economic, scientific-technological and tourism spheres and a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation; the agreement signed with Vietnam on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and the agreement on cultural cooperation and promotion and reciprocal protection of investments; the agreement signed with Cambodia on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports; and the agreements signed with China, Laos and Thailand on commercial navigation over the Lancang-Mekong River.
The signing of these accords has dynamically pushed the development of their bilateral economic and trade ties as well as cooperation in other sectors.
During the year, Myanmar also forged diplomatic ties with Kyrgyzstan, bringing the total number of nations with which Myanmar has diplomatic links in the world to 86 with 30 embassies and two permanent missions and two consulates-general opened there.
Despite achievements made in its diplomatic front to some extent, Myanmar is still facing many difficulties and challenges.
For instance, the United-States-led western nations have not yet lifted their sanctions and embargo against Myanmar since the outbreak of political crisis in the country in 1988.
Besides, due to sanctions imposed by the International Labor Organization (ILO), Myanmar has ceased cooperation with the organization. Myanmar Foreign Minister U Win Aung said that his country has been the target of putting political pressure by some western nations.
The basic principles of Myanmar's foreign policy are -- adherence of the U.N. Charter, observance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, maintenance of friendly relations with all countries in the world particularly neighboring countries, non-alliance with any country or country-group, positive safeguarding of world peace and security and opposition to imperialism, neo-colonialism, interference, aggression and control of a country by another, acceptance of foreign assistance in the interest of national development without any pre-conditions attached.
These principles have constituted the basic framework of Myanmar's foreign policy in the 21st century.
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