U Khin Maung Lynn: Share the common interests of mankind for peace and prosperity

U Khin Maung Lynn, the Joint Secretary of the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies, emphasized the need for Asia and the world to share common interests during an exclusive interview with People’s Daily Online during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference this year.

Under the theme of “Shared Future, Concerted Action, Common Development”, the BFA annual conference 2019 kicked off in Boao, south China's Hainan Province on March 28. This year’s forum has drawn over 2,000 delegates including government officials, entrepreneurs and scholars from 60 countries and regions.

This year marks U Khin Maung Lynn’s second time attending the BFA. He commended the forum as one of the most important events for Asia, which has “become greater and more inclusive year after year, with various timely international subjects discussed and contemplated here,” he said.

“Due to fast advancement in technology and human knowledge, we are interconnected more than ever,” he noted, stressing the importance of sharing common interests between nations for future peace and prosperity.

“We need to share our views, experience and knowledge,” he said, adding that a community of shared future for humankind can only be reached with concerted efforts.

He listed international organizations like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as examples of promoting regional coordinated development. “International organizations should work towards a clearer goal by taking specific, coordinated steps to achieve what’s best for everyone. Regional peace, security and common development, all of these goals need to be achieved in coordinated efforts,” he said.

Myanmar is currently making considerable efforts to introduce 5G across the country. Chinese tech giant Huawei is working closely with Myanmar's authorities to help implement the technology.

U Khin Maung Lynn pointed out that people from Myanmar, especially the younger generations, are very talented in IT and are developing a keen interest in the next big thing: 5G. “This presents a great opportunity for young people in Myanmar to learn from and work with Chinese companies like Huawei, to help advance local development of technology and boost the country’s production in agriculture and other industries,” he said.

U Khin Maung Lynn also spoke highly of the enormous potential in the Hainan free trade zone and free trade port. “With favorable policies to support the development of technology, young talents and entrepreneurs, as well as its ideal location, Hainan will become a major hub for international cooperation and foreign investment,” he said.