20 August
The fourth session of Union Peace Conference— 21st Century Panglong began with an opening ceremony on the first day at the Myanmar International Convention Centre-II in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
The opening ceremony was attended by President U Win Myint, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Vice Presidents U Myint Swe and U Henry Van Thio, Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Vice Senior General Soe Win, Amyotha Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Aye Tha Aung, Union Ministers, Union Attorney-General, Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, Chairman of Peace Commission, senior Tatmadaw officers, Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, Deputy Ministers, representatives of Hluttaw and Tatmadaw members, patrons, chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and representatives of political parties.
The NCA-S EAOs were represented by KNU Chairperson Saw Mutu Sae Poe and Vice-Chairperson Pa’doh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, DKBA Saw Moo Shay, KNU/KNLLA-PC Chairperson Saw Hto Lay and Vice-Chairperson Saw Yin Nu, ABSDF Chairperson U Than Khe and General Secretary U Sonny, CNF Chairperson Pu Zin Cung and Vice-Chairperson Pu Thang Ning Kee, PNLO Leading Patron Khun Okkar and Patron Phyar Tan Khun Ti Saung, ALP Vice-Chairperson Khaing Soe Naing Aung and Deputy Leader Saw Mra Raza Lin, RCSS Chairperson Sao Yawd Serk and its peace negotiation leader Sao Pawng Kherh, NMSP Chairperson Nai Han Thar and Vice-Chairperson Nai Aung Min, LDU Chairperson Kyar Khun Sar and other representatives of NCA-S EAOs for the Conference.
Those attendees at the Conference were diplomats from foreign missions in Myanmar, representatives of UN agencies and local and foreign NGOs and the invited guests.
The Kayah youth campaigner for peacemaking efforts performed with the song ‘Peace is Essential’.
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her capacity as the Chairperson of National Reconciliation and Peace Centre, delivered an address.
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing also delivered a speech. Chairperson of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) Sao Yawd Serk made an address, in representing NCA-S EAOs.
Shan Nationalities League for Democracy Vice-Chairperson U Sai Nyunt Lwin made a speech, representing political parties group.
After a video presentation of national reconciliation and peace efforts, the attendees posed for group documentary photos before concluding the opening ceremony.—MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)
