On the evening of January 17, 2020 local time, President Xi Jinping attended the launch ceremony of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations and China-Myanmar Year of Culture and Tourism at the Myanmar International Convention Centre 2 in Nay Pyi Taw. Myanmar President U Win Myint, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, First Vice President U Myint Swe, Second Vice President U Henry Van Thio, Speaker of the Union Parliament and Speaker of the House of Representatives U T Khun Myat, Speaker of Amyotha Hluttaw U Mahn Win Khaing Than, Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing, and all Cabinet Members attended the event.

A huge bilingual banner hung in the theater says "Renew China-Myanmar "Pauk-Phaw" Friendship and Build a Community with a Shared Future for China and Myanmar", creating a delightful and festive atmosphere.

Accompanied by the leaders of the Myanmar side, Xi Jinping entered the theater amid warm applause.

U Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi delivered speeches respectively.

U Win Myint said, Myanmar and China enjoy a long history of friendly exchanges, and the two peoples have been bound together like brothers and sisters. As Marshal Chen Yi wrote in his poem, "I live here upstream, and you live there downstream, our endless friendship flows like the river, and the river combines us together." Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 70 years ago, Myanmar and China have gone through an extraordinary journey. The leaders of the two countries have carried out close and friendly exchanges, and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence jointly advocated by both countries has become a basic norm of international relations. President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Myanmar on occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and China, and solemnly celebrated the anniversary with the Myanmar side's leaders, which not only demonstrates the profound friendship between the two countries and peoples, but also makes 2020 a new important milestone in the history of Myanmar-China relations. The Myanmar side will continue committing to deepening friendly cooperation with China in various fields. May the friendship between Myanmar and China last forever!

Aung San Suu Kyi noted, it is an auspicious time for Myanmar and Chinese leaders to jointly attend the launch ceremony of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of Myanmar-China diplomatic Relations and Myanmar-China Year of Culture and Tourism. No matter how Myanmar's domestic situation changes, all successive governments of Myanmar attach great importance to developing friendly relations with China. President Xi Jinping's state visit to Myanmar at the beginning of the year is an important step in the two countries' efforts in building a community with a shared future. The Myanmar side actively supports and takes part in the Belt and Road Initiative and is looking forward to more fruitful results in building the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor. Myanmar looks forward to ever more deepening cultural and people-to-people exchanges with China to expand the public support for bilateral friendship. We firmly believe that under President Xi Jinping's leadership, China will eventually achieve its two centenary goals and accomplish the great cause of national rejuvenation. Myanmar believes that China's development will bring greater opportunities to Myanmar and the world. Myanmar looks forward to making joint efforts with China and the rest of the world in building a community with a shared future for mankind and contributing to promoting world peace and development.

In his speech, Xi Jinping said, I am truly delighted to join you in witnessing the launch of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations and for the China-Myanmar Year of Culture and Tourism. This is an important landmark in the long history of our friendly exchanges, one that will be celebrated with great festivity by our two peoples. Our people have enjoyed friendly ties for thousands of years, which reflects the profound friendship between us and testifies to our great tradition of sharing weal and woe. Both Chinese and Myanmar cultures cherish the belief in a "shared bond". Our two countries are geographically linked, our peoples are connected by kinship and our cultures enjoy a natural affinity. Our millennia-old, time-tested "pauk-phaw" friendship is as strong as ever; it is the driving force and source of strength behind China-Myanmar relations. By celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations and the Myanmar-China Year of Culture and Tourism, the two sides may increase mutual learning as civilizations, and expand people-to-people exchanges. This will engage more people in China and Myanmar who will become stakeholders, beneficiaries and supporters of China-Myanmar friendship, thus cementing public support for our friendly relations.

Xi Jinping stressed, to promote China-Myanmar relations in the new era, we should build on past achievements and forge ahead into the future with integrity and creativity. President U Win Myint and I have an agreement to jointly build a community with a shared future between China and Myanmar. This important political consensus profoundly depicts the special bond between China and Myanmar in which we depend on each other as teeth and lips, vividly reflects the fraternal friendship of the two peoples helping each other through thick and thin, and comprehensively pictures blueprint for the future development of our bilateral relations. The two sides should follow the shared vision of a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, prioritize the fundamental interests of the two peoples, and pursue stronger political trust and broader practical cooperation, so that the two peoples will always be good neighbors, good friends, good "pauk-phaw" and good partners.

Xi Jinping stressed, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence jointly advocated by China and Myanmar has made a major contribution to the history of international relations. The world today is undergoing deep changes not seen in a century. Countries are closely linked and are increasingly becoming a community with a shared future. Yet, the lack of equality and justice is still prominent in international relations. To safeguard world peace and promote common development remains a challenging goal. Under new circumstances, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are more relevant than ever before. China and Myanmar, working together, can set an example for advocating and applying the Five Principles and be role models in the handling of state-to-state relations. Together, we can encourage all to join the efforts for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi Jinping emphasized, "deep are the feelings of pauk-phaw, just as long is the flow of our rivers." I am convinced that with joint efforts, the tide of China-Myanmar friendship and cooperation for common development will surge forward, like the Lancang and the Irrawaddy, coming from the same origin and rushing past mountains and shoals, in unstoppable flows.

After the speech, Xi Jinping and U Win Myint pressed the button together to officially launch the China-Myanmar Year of Culture and Tourism.

The leaders of the two countries enjoyed the wonderful performances presented by Chinese and Myanmar artists. Myanmar artists dressed in national costumes have spelled out the English words "Myanmar" and "China" with "Bathein Htee" (Myanmar umbrellas), a traditional handwork. The "Bathein Htee", like beautiful blooming flowers, showed the number "70", symbolizing the good wishes for the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar. The audience responded with warm applause.

Before the ceremony, Myanmar leaders accompanied Xi Jinping to a photo exhibition celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar. The photo exhibition displayed touching scenes in bilateral exchanges over the past 70 years since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. Xi Jinping stopped from time to time, listened closely to the guide and watched carefully.

On the evening of the same day, Xi Jinping had a friendly conversation with Speaker of the Union Parliament and Speaker of the House of Representatives U T Khun Myat, and Speaker of Amyotha Hluttaw U Mahn Win Khaing Than, and took a group photo with leaders of Myanmar main political parties.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others were present at above events.