Mrs Myat Thuzar Than
Consul-General of Myanmar in Hong Kong
Myanmar

Honourable Secretary, Mr LAU Kong-wah, Excellencies, representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is my great honour to be here to represent my Cultural Minister, Minister Thura Aung Ko, to join this prestigious forum organised by the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

First of all, I would like to congratulate for the great achievement of the ACCF throughout the past 16 years. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my appreciation to the organiser for initiating the ACCF which brings us together to have an excellent opportunity to share valuable experience, exchange ideas, and learn from each other to further enhance co-operation for growing together. It is indeed a great pleasure for me to share historical and archaeological research efforts and implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) with regard to the culture policies of Myanmar.

Allow me to share with UNESCO heritage sites in Myanmar., as everyone knows that culture heritage has indeed been recognised as an important aspect of the country's economy and society. The Bagan Archaeological Site and Monuments has been officially inscribed as a UNESCO Heritage Site at a meeting of the UN culture body in Baku, Azerbaijan during the 43rd section of the World Heritage Committee in July 2019. At this juncture, other 15 places from Myanmar were also tentatively listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Allow me to share three Pyu ancient cities, Hanlin, Beikthano and Sri Kestra, which have been recognised as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2014. They reflect the Pyu Kingdom that flourished for over 1 000 years between 200 BC and AD 900. The three cities are partly excavated archaeological sites.

Excellencies and distinguished guests, Myanmar consents to receive and consider that culture envelops art, literature, traditional practices, beliefs and idealism of the mankind; that every country possesses its own tradition and custom to be preserved; and that to preserve the sustainable development and protection of own tradition and custom is important.

In the modern days, every country in this world is implementing the SDGs. Myanmar is one of those in terms of establishing a framework for the cultural policies in line with the SDGs. We welcome and take that the world is going straight forward as the countries are connecting to each other; that equality replaced centralism; and that the cultural practices of the nation as a common thing in the form of universal norm.

In the present days, there are varieties of culture that have evolved. Therefore, every country needs to show magnanimity and take time to nurture its own culture in order to implement the SDGs and establish a common framework with regard to culture policies. At making and implementation of the culture policy, government sectors have to encounter challenges as well as opportunities. We have observed three types of different cultural groups. The first group is a conventional and conservative group tending to preserve the status quo. The second group is an ultra-modern and futuristic group. The third group is flexible and ready to streamline with the contemporary period. These art groups have been creating challenges to blending them into the unity and unison.

When it comes to creating cultural policies, it is expected that the government may require financial and technical support for the culture activities, and the need for imparting the cultural beliefs and values.

With regards to the multilateral cooperation framework, Myanmar has been chosen as one of the UNESCO executive board members on 22 November 2019, for the first time in 70 years since we joined the UNESCO in June 1949.

Under the bilateral context, Myanmar co-operated with India for the conservation of Ananda Temple in Bagan and restoration of 92 temples, which were completed in 2017. With the People's Republic of China, we are collaborating for conservation of the Thatbyinnyu Pagoda in Bagan, restoration of the temple, preservation of ancient monuments and making research of the Mrauk-U Ancient Site. With the Republic of Korea, we collaborated with the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage for onsite technical training programmes and conservation of the mural painting in Bagan and many more products. With Japan, Myanmar is working on primate research by co-operating with the world-class primate research institute—Kyoto University—and has explored indisputable evidence that the fossilised remains of the anthropoid primates found in Myanmar could be dated being 40 million years old, and collaborating for the conservation of the ancient wooden monuments.

One of the vital aims of Myanmar is promoting bilateral ties in the cultural context with Hong Kong, while the people-to-people bond under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative is strengthened, such as dispatching delegations, exchanging books and promoting cultural activities. Taking this opportunity, I would like to invite all of you to participate in the International Historical Symposium to be held in Myanmar in 2020.

In conclusion, I would like to convey that a sturdy and strong cultural sector will promote other traditions and values such as patriotism, loyalty, diversity and debate about our needs in society. It is important for nation building, peace and reconciliation for a country like Myanmar and a city like Hong Kong.

Once again, I would like to thank the organiser, the Home Affairs Bureau of the Government of the HKSAR, and wish for the great success of the conference. I wish to extend my best wishes to everyone for a happy and prosperous new year.

Thank you very much.