President U Min Aung Hlaing paid a State Visit to the People’s Republic of China from June 15 to 19, 2026. During the President’s trip, U Ko Ko, Chairman of the Myanmar Narrative Think Tank (MNTT), had the opportunity to meet with the President on the morning of June 19 in Hangzhou to ask questions of interest. The interview is presented below.
MNTT: When combining China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Myanmar’s potential for regional connectivity, it is often said that Myanmar will stand as a strategic “Land Bridge” connecting China, ASEAN, and the Indian Ocean. As this land bridge nation, does Your Excellency have any plans to shape and develop Myanmar?
President U Min Aung Hlaing : In reality, Myanmar is not merely the aforementioned Land bridge nation, but a choke point… it is a true focal point nation. Actually, being a focal point carries a considerably massive impact.
Therefore, for example, if we look at the route toward the Indian Ocean just mentioned, there are countries like India, Bangladesh, and Western nations. Now, with emerging pathways for peace in the Middle East region, we can substantially capitalize on these numerous opportunities. That is one point. This is for China. Furthermore, if we look at it from India’s perspective as well, India has its communications with China based on favorable conditions on their side, and our country, Myanmar, has border areas that share boundaries with them. However, if they are to transit from our country towards China, they will have the opportunity to operate and engage in sectors where competition is viable.
Similarly, ASEAN nations can also transit through. It is not limited to India and China; other countries can also use Myanmar as a base to access India, access China, or access ASEAN.
This is something we need to be able to capitalize on. To be able to capitalize on it, peace and stability are crucial.
There needs to be peace and stability for the State, peace and stability in security, and peace and stability in the socio-economic lives of the public. The affairs of the State are one aspect, and the lives of the public are another; they are not the same. They are distinct. If we only operate in this manner, the country possesses a great deal of favorable conditions. For the sake of utilizing them, I want to convey that there are numerous favorable conditions.
MNTT: Looking at the global situation today, we can see the increasingly prominent emergence of what we call the Multipolar World Order. Due to this Multipolar World, small nations have the opportunities to enhance their partnership relations and expand cooperation with other countries. Therefore, what we would like to know from Your Excellency is: Myanmar has currently embarked on a goodwill visit to the People’s Republic of China. Bilateral relations are elevating and rising. Based on this connectivity and relationship, how can we seize opportunities within this emerging Multipolar World Order?
President U Min Aung Hlaing: There are plenty of opportunities. Regarding the Multipolar World, look at the countries across the globe; all of them have their own respective desires and objectives.
In the past, things operated under a Unipolar or Bipolar system. The world was shaped by the Unipolar system. We suffered from it. We suffered under that Unipolar system, and under the Bipolar system, the existence of rivals meant we were increasingly drawn in, which was the problem.
As for a Multipolar system, ideally, all nations will exist—individually as nations, by Region, or by Group. If we proceed to compete and operate under this framework, all nations will enjoy the benefits. They will enjoy equal benefits. There will be absolutely no discrimination.
We must work to ensure there is no racial discrimination, color discrimination, religious discrimination, or regional discrimination. If we can operate in this manner, the world will achieve peace, stability, and progress. This is what we need to be able to capitalize on.
MNTT: Thank you, Mr. President.
