Myanmar president congratulates India, China on Panchsheel

Yangon, June 28 (IANS) Myanmar President U Thein Sein Saturday sent congratulatory messages to Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the commemoration of the the 60th anniversary of Panchsheel or the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence.

U Thein Sein said in his message that he was fully confident that this important event would bring further understanding and closer cooperation among three countries - Myanmar, India and China - Xinhua reported.

As the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence reflect the basic norms governing international relations, he said he was convinced that the three countries could work together to further strengthen these principles for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world as a whole.

Despite several alterations over the past 60 years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence have been widely accepted and observed by the international community as a basic norm governing state-to-state relations, and made an important contribution to world peace and progress of the humanity, he noted.

The Myanmar president firmly believed that the longstanding Pauk-Phaw relationship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Myanmar and China would be further enhanced to a new level through joint efforts based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co- existence.

He also pledged that as India was a good neighbouring country of Myanmar, the longstanding friendly relations between Myanmar and India would be further strengthened to a new stage in the coming years through joint efforts based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence.

Meanwhile, the commemorative ceremony of the 60th anniversary of the announcement of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence will run until Sunday in Beijing.