Myanmar president vows all necessary steps to advance peace process

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing has pledged that the country bears an unshirkable responsibility to take all necessary actions to achieve long-term peace and stability.

In an interview with China Media Group in Beijing during his five-day state visit to China, which ended on Friday, Min Aung Hlaing discussed the current stage of Myanmar's peace process and the government's plans to achieve lasting peace and stability in the country.

"Differences are the reason why peace has not been achieved. We are working hard to resolve these differences, including political differences, administrative differences, cultural differences and ethnic differences. We will resolve these differences in accordance with laws and regulations. In a time of peace and democracy, we seek peace talks with all parties. Myanmar has an unshirkable responsibility to do what should be done and advance what should be advanced. I believe Myanmar will ultimately achieve peace," Min Aung Hlaing said.

Speaking of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, of which Myanmar is one of the joint initiators alongside China and India, Min Aung Hlaing stated that these principles serve as the cornerstone of the "Pauk-Phaw" friendship between Myanmar and China and are upheld as universal norms for international relations.

"The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are a model for international relations. Yesterday, (June 16), President Xi Jinping and I also talked about this successful example for the world. Everyone agrees that, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, we should carry forward the 'Pauk-Phaw' friendship between the two countries that we just discussed, and jointly build a Myanmar-China community with a shared future featuring shared weal and woe and mutual assistance. This friendship should not stop with our generation. Myanmar and China are willing to be good neighbors with mutual trust and friendship for generations to come. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence apply not only to Myanmar-China relations, but are also basic norms that all countries in the world should observe in developing their relations with one another," he said.

Myanmar president vows all necessary steps to advance peace process

A 28-member press delegation from 19 countries, joined by Chinese state media, has embarked on a week-long tour in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, gaining first-hand insight into a region that also serves as a core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

The journey began Friday in Turpan. The first stop was a massive "photovoltaic plus solar-thermal" hybrid project featuring over 20,000 heliostat mirrors, a breathtaking sight that drew admiration from the visitors.

"Obviously, solar energy is used all over the world, but in the way I've seen it here and it was explained to me here, I haven't seen it before, especially since apparently like two different techniques are being combined to produce green energy for China. It's cool," said Stefan Zanev, freelancer for Bavarian Broadcasting.

The delegation also stopped at a Uygur hospital's sand-therapy center, where reporters sampled herbal teas and experienced heated sand treatments.

In the coming days, the group will travel to Hotan and Urumqi to observe the daily lives and work of local communities.

Int'l press delegation visits Xinjiang