STATE Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her capacity as the chairperson of the Border Areas and National Races Development Central Committee, delivered an opening address at the Ethnics Cultural Festival at the Kyaikkiasan Grounds in Yangon yesterday.

Also present at the opening ceremony were Vice President U Henry Van Thio and wife Dr Shwe Hlwan, union ministers, the Union Attorney-General, Chairman of the Peace Com-mission, the Chief Minister for the Yangon Region, Kayah State Chief Minister, deputy ministers and their wives, regional and state ministers, MPs, representatives from self-administered zones and regions, ethnic delegations and cultural troupes, regional and state ethnic cultural and literature organizations, ethnic entrepreneurs, diplomats, representatives of the UN agencies, invited guests and officials.

First, the State Counsellor, Vice President U Henry Van Thio, Union ministers and entourage visited the booths set up at the festival.

Afterwards, school children and Kayan ethnic singer Naw Gu Gu entertained the dignitaries with a song titled “Peace is a must” composed by Thit Lwin Aung (Loikaw).

Afterwards, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Vice President U Henry Van Thio, Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs Nai Thet Lwin, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Kayah State Chief Minister U L Phaung Shoe and ethnic entrepreneurs opened the festival.

Next, the State Counsellor delivered an opening address.

In her speech to the Myanmar Ethnics Cultural Festival event, the State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said: “Today event is held for the second time to conserve the beauties of mountains, rivers and landscapes of the country and to preserve its traditions and customs. It is hoped that ethnic traditional apparel and produce can be exported to foreign markets. It aims to assist in the peace process. It is also to promote ethnic traditional cultures and tourism. Kayah traditional dance show is the main feature.

A special feature was for Kachin in the previous year. I understand that we will prioritize each ethnic national every year. Our nation composes of over 100 ethnic nationals. Each and every individual ethnic national lives together for long in harmony as well as in weal and woe. We all shall build a dignified Union with a pure good-will and determination.

Ethnic nationals are brothers and sisters of the Union. Union spirit can bring about unity. It also leads to living in harmony and solidarity despite the differences in race, language, and religion. We all are a Union and it is highly important that we should cherish our Union and our land, and value our Union to build a peaceful unified developed nation.

It is the time for all ethnic nationals need to have more unity, mutual respect and assistance among them. Moreover, each and everyone should build and lift their individual qualities like spirit, discipline, education, diligence, and honesty. I wish to see you all as peace-makers based on mutual respect and assistance.

It is meaningful that colourful people get together at the event to develop ethnic nationals. I’m confident that with natural resources, environmental beauties, traditional apparels, and local-made products, based on innovative and modernized methods, they will promote village-tract-based tourism, step by step, both for domestic and international guests.

To end my speech, when we talk about the same blood it’s really not the vane in human’s body. It means the blood flows in our minds. Our mind is the same and alike. The blood in the vane might be the same but we can’t name it as the same blood unless blood in the mind is the same. Looking at this Union, we can see how beautiful our Union or our country is and how priceless it is.

Earlier, all will notice a background show of our country while a song “Peace is a must” is being sung. Nature is a beauty but it becomes ugly due to man-made problems. I hope we can remove them with our same blood or mind.

To accelerate the continuous development work in the country, it is necessary that all ethnic nationals should collabo-rate in the implementation of a democratic federal Union with their loving-kindness, good-will, discretion, and courage. I’d like you all to participate in this great task. Each individual should exert their good spirit of what they can do in the work. Whatever minimal work every one of us can do, please so do. I believe we can multiply those minimal works towards our goal soon. Hence, we, in collaboration with ethnic nationals, are striving for peace within the Union. Please support and assist us in this task. We need support from the bottom of your heart. You use your brain and consider the way to success. To realize a unified peaceful and developed Union, I’d like to request your discretion and support.  

Following her address, damsels of the 2020 Miss Myanmar Ethnic in ethnic attires performed.

Afterwards, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Vice President U Henry Van Thio, Union ministers, Peace Commission Chairman, chief ministers form regions and states and deputy ministers posed for documentary photos together with members of the regional and state cabinets, ambassadors, diplomats and resident representatives of the UN agencies; together with ethnic entrepreneurs and officials; and Dr Shwe Hlwan, wife of Vice President U Henry Van Thio, wives of Union ministers and wives of deputy ministers and damsels of the 2020 Miss Myanmar Ethnic separately.

Afterwards, the State Counsellor and entourage were entertained with the theme song and ethnic dances performed by ethnic dance troupes.

MNA
(Translated by Aungthu Ya)
Photo - MNA
Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar