President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Min Aung Hlaing paid a State Visit to the People’s Republic of China at the invitation of President Mr Xi Jinping of China. During his State visit, the Myanmar President responded to the questions raised by Ms Liu Meixi of Phoenix TV from Phoenix News Agency on 19 June. The full text of the translated replies of the President is as follows:
Interviewer: First of all, I would like to thank Your Excellency for giving me the opportunity to interview you here in the beautiful city of Hangzhou. I have studied your speeches, remarks, and responses in various international media. My first question is that, regarding what has been said in the media, Your Excellency is described as someone who is deeply devoted to the country and a political figure who prioritizes doing what is best for the nation both in the present and in the future. How do you view this characterization?
President U Min Aung Hlaing: A leader – no matter who the leader is or at what level – if a leader has the mindset of how to improve the work or department under their responsibility, then those work areas or departments will always progress. It is about cultivating a constructive attitude and a positive mindset. I apply this exact approach myself, having always worked to improve the performance and culture of every department I have served in. From the lowest level up to senior responsibilities, I have always worked in this way.
In my current role managing state affairs, my focus remains entirely on driving national progress. We continuously evaluate the long-term impact of potential policies to ensure strategic, effective implementation. In doing so, one must have a firm determination. One cannot simply go along with whatever others say without clear judgment. It is necessary to know exactly what one wants to do, and that intention must also be correct. If it is not correct, it will not bring benefits and may instead lead to problems. Looking at various sectors where issues are occurring, I see the same pattern. That is what I would like to express — that I work with such a sincere and committed mindset.
Interviewer: I am satisfied with Your Excellency’s response to the question just now. I visited Myanmar in 2023. Myanmar is rich in natural resources and has great potential for development across various sectors.
Among these potentials, I would like to know – in 2026, in which areas or sectors does Your Excellency plan to focus to improve the livelihoods of the people and promote the development of their lives, homes, and economic well-being?
President: We possess two types of natural resources and products, along with a valuable human resource. It’s essential for us to strategically utilize these three components. My policy emphasizes that I do not favour selling our natural resources or products merely in their raw form. Instead, we should focus on upgrading them, adding value, and fostering further development. In other words, it is about expanding industries and creating more employment opportunities. We have agricultural products, and we also have mineral resources, both above-ground and underground natural resources.
In the agricultural sector mentioned earlier, we need to support agricultural production. To achieve this, we must promote micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). If this can be done, it will create many job opportunities for the grassroots population. Another point is that we must also advance in technology – we have no choice but to move forward. In today’s era, we cannot be left behind. We need to develop technology-based sectors. For example, agriculture should be technology-driven, livestock farming should also be technology-driven, and industry should likewise be based on technology. This is the direction we must take. If we provide such support, people will have more job opportunities and higher incomes. As their income increases, their wealth and overall socioeconomic conditions will improve, and as a result, the country will also progress. This is the direction I am aiming for.
Interviewer: Thank you for Your Excellency’s remarks, in which you stated that agricultural production will be increased in order to improve the livelihoods of the people. My follow-up question concerns the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor. In 2026, marking 76 years of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations, how will the products you mentioned earlier be promoted and developed through this economic corridor, and what role will it play in this process?
President: We have a long historical relationship. It is the 76 years of diplomatic relations, but in fact our interactions go back many years. We have engaged in trade and commerce since earlier times, and we need to make use of that foundation. The agricultural products, livestock products, and natural resource-based products mentioned earlier should be processed into finished goods in Myanmar and then exported to China. China is a very large market. Your country has a population of over 1.4 billion people, which represents a huge market for us. We need to make effective use of this opportunity.
Selling of goods also must be essential for users. We need to be able to produce the goods that are in demand. We must be able to produce what you need and sell it to you, and we have to make this a reality. During this visit, the aim is to promote bilateral trade and encourage investment from China in Myanmar. It may also involve producing goods in Myanmar through such investments and then exporting them back to China, or to other countries, or selling them within Myanmar itself. This is the direction we should move toward.
If we do this, the economic corridor will function effectively. We can say it will be successful. However, the route must be smooth; it must be secure and efficient. We must create conditions to ensure that security and smoothness. We need to improve railways and roads, and we must facilitate bilateral trade as well as cross-border trade. Since this is the era of technology, we must also use technology to ensure that interactions and exchanges are secure and robust. It is not just about ordinary buying and selling. There are many aspects that must be addressed from multiple sectors. It is quite broad in scope. We are working with the objective of making it strong and sustainable.
Interviewer: Thank you. Your Excellency has mentioned that efforts will be made to promote trade and business investment with China. In this regard, my question is: in order to encourage Chinese businesspeople to invest more deeply in Myanmar, what kind of favourable or supportive policies will the Myanmar government introduce for Chinese investors, and how will it raise awareness of the Myanmar market? In addition, regarding access to international and ASEAN markets, what kinds of policies is Myanmar considering in terms of its level of participation and integration in these markets?
President: China is Myanmar’s largest trading partner. In terms of investment in Myanmar, China is also the largest investor.
China is the biggest country both in terms of trade and investment for us, and we intend to further expand this cooperation. Just as your country has a huge market, behind us there is India, which has a population of over 1.4 billion and is the most populous country in the world. Then there is Bangladesh with around 160 million people, and Thailand with over 70 million people. There are also ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, and further east, Cambodia and Laos. If Chinese businesses invest in Myanmar, there is an investment law in place. Internationally, the US dollar is commonly used, but in Myanmar, the yuan is also legally permitted for investment purposes. There are no visa restrictions imposed on incoming investors; everything is facilitated. One-Stop Service centres have been established to avoid difficulties. All necessary legal protections are also provided. This has already been agreed upon by both countries.
By investing in our country, the products that are produced can be exported either to Western markets or to ASEAN markets. To the west, there are India and Bangladesh, and there are also many sea routes that can be used. We will facilitate this in the best possible way, and legal protections are in place as well. However, special or separate protection cannot be given in a discriminatory manner. The law cannot provide preferential protection to a single group or organization; equal rights must be ensured for all. We are dealing with multiple countries in our relations. Therefore, I believe that if we proceed in this way, it will be successful and will also benefit China.
One point I missed earlier is that, for border trade payments, transactions in yuan and kyat are permitted. Chinese traders can pay in yuan when purchasing goods from Myanmar. Agreements have already been reached between the banks, and this has been officially approved. This was first permitted during my administration.
Interviewer: Yes, this is also an area of interest for me. We are also interested in the fact that direct investment in yuan has been permitted. In this regard, Your Excellency, how do you assess the potential increase in Myanmar’s GDP as a result of investment conducted in yuan?
President: GDP depends on three main sectors: the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors. However, when one initiative is implemented, it also brings about a chain of indirect effects. Our country’s GDP is still low. Even at the provincial level in China, the GDP can be higher than that of our entire country. We aim to develop further than this. We are working through investment, and we also need to expand production ourselves. Only by expanding production can GDP increase. With investment, production across various sectors will increase, and job opportunities will expand. Alongside this, the service sector will also grow. Since this is a cumulative process, it is difficult to estimate precisely. However, I think it could roughly double. We expect that the current expansion of investment cooperation with China could lead to GDP increasing by about two times. This is because we have opportunities for development – we simply need to implement them. To do so, we must work together in cooperation. That is why I am placing strong emphasis on this effort.
Interviewer: As I have seen in news reports, during Your Excellency’s visit to China, you visited various factories and industrial sectors. For example, you visited exhibitions related to aerospace and different industrial facilities. Based on China’s technological development, in which sectors would you like to enhance cooperation with Myanmar, and in which areas do you intend or wish to further strengthen collaboration?
President: China’s high level of technological development covers a very wide range of fields. There is IT and aerospace, industrial development, as well as sectors related to culture and transport, among others. If we are to cooperate, it should be across multiple sectors. We also need to work on creating the right conditions for such cooperation to take place. We need to be able to keep up with China’s advanced technologies. China’s technological progress is also very rapid. Technologies are constantly changing and evolving in real time.
For example, when I visited China in 2024, I observed some industries. When I visited there in 2025, I observed certain industries again. And when I came to China in 2026, I also looked at some industries. The situation in 2024 and 2025 has already changed significantly. However, we still have a lot of work to do just to reach the level of development seen in 2024. Our people also need preparation. For this preparation, cooperation with China is also necessary. Technology development must be carried out across all sectors. It is very broad in scope. Therefore, we aim and plan to pursue comprehensive, multi-sector cooperation.
Interviewer: Thank you. Your Excellency has just mentioned that border trade routes must be made secure, smooth, and convenient, and that only then can the two countries develop. In connection with this, my question is: what policies does Your Excellency have regarding border area management for the development of border regions? And in terms of security, what kind of guarantees or arrangements will be made for Chinese investors and businesses operating in Myanmar’s border areas?
President: To speak frankly, at present the security and stability of the border areas is still weak. This is an issue that both governments need to coordinate and work together on. Border area management is solely the responsibility of the government. Only the government can carry it out; no other organization is allowed to intervene. Not only border area administration, but also border trade and cross-border trade between the two countries must be handled by the government. We must work to make this possible. We also need to strive to resolve the existing issues in accordance with the law.
Regarding the security of Chinese investors’ investments, we are making significant efforts. It is true that there have been difficulties, and we have had to overcome quite a number of them. At present, the situation is relatively better, and political adjustments have also been made. Some of the issues are political in nature, while others arise from ethnic affairs. These matters must be resolved in accordance with the law through the parliament. The necessary security protections are provided by the relevant organizations. While it may not be possible to provide individual-level protection, security related to institutions and businesses is being ensured by the relevant authorities. Effective action is also being taken in this regard. Among the current issues, there are online gambling problems in the border areas, and these are being cracked down on. There are also joint operations between China and Myanmar to suppress such activities. Those who have committed offenses have already been handed over to China. We must ensure that those who intend to violate the law are discouraged from coming and prevented from operating. This requires action from both sides; one side alone cannot handle it. This applies to cross-border issues. Internal security is our responsibility, and we are working on it. In addition, we have also allowed the establishment of joint coordination mechanisms related to China’s security concerns. In this way, we are ensuring both investment security and the safety of individuals.
Interviewer: Yes, I would like to express my sincere thanks for having the opportunity to ask Your Excellency these questions. We believe that under Your Excellency’s leadership, Myanmar’s economic activities will continue to develop and grow.
President: OK, Alright.
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