Wang Yi Delivers a Written Speech at the Pledging Conference to Support ASEAN's Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar

On August 18, 2021, the ASEAN Secretariat held the Pledging Conference to Support ASEAN's Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar via video link. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a written speech to the conference.

Wang Yi said that China and ASEAN are close partners sharing weal and woe, and China and Myanmar, an indispensable member of the ASEAN family, enjoy a long-standing pauk-phaw friendship. Since the beginning of this year, Myanmar has undergone changes in its domestic situation. China is highly concerned about it and has conducted in-depth communication and promoted peace talks with Myanmar and ASEAN, and played a positive and constructive role in its own way. China has always believed that all parties in Myanmar should put the long-term interests of the country and the people first and find a proper solution through political dialogue within the constitutional and legal framework, to put an end to its issues. China supports ASEAN in constructively participating in Myanmar's reconciliation process as a mature regional organization. China also put forward the initiative of "five-jointly" that supports ASEAN in handling Myanmar's issues, which was well received by ASEAN countries, including Myanmar.

Wang Yi said that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and ASEAN countries have been supporting each other in tiding over difficulties. Facing new challenges brought by the recurring outbreaks in Myanmar, China overcame its own adversities and fully supported Myanmar in fighting against the pandemic. Since the beginning of this year, China has provided multiple batches of anti-pandemic supplies, including vaccines to Myanmar, and established a special channel at the border between the two countries to send anti-pandemic supplies. This is our due responsibility for building the China-Myanmar community with a shared future, as well as a vivid display of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership.

Wang Yi said that properly handling the Myanmar situation is in the common interests of regional countries, and fighting against COVID-19 is a shared responsibility of the international community. We must join hands to assist Myanmar in defeating the pandemic at an early date, and taking the path towards peace and stability.

First, we must respect Myanmar's sovereignty and the choice of its people, and support the country in choosing the development path that suits its national conditions, safeguarding its national dignity and legitimate interests, and ensuring the well-being of its people and social security.

Second, we must resolve the Myanmar issue within the ASEAN framework, support the implementation of the "five-point consensus" reached by the ASEAN leaders, and create enabling conditions and a favorable environment for ASEAN's special envoy to Myanmar to fulfill his duty.

Third, we must intensify humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. It is imperative to ensure the accessibility and effectiveness of anti-pandemic assistance, safeguard the health and safety of its people, and at the same time avoid politicalizing COVID response and humanitarian issues to disturb the resolution of the Myanmar issue.

Wang Yi said that China's friendly policy toward Myanmar is always for all the people of Myanmar. China will actively support the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management in fulfilling their tasks. No country is an island amid the pandemic. China will continue to work closely with ASEAN and the international community to safeguard the health and well-being of the people of all countries including Myanmar, and jointly promote peace, security, development and prosperity of the region.