SSPC Vice Chairman: Myanmar and China are good neighbors; friendship, goodwill and cooperation to rapidly expand in 2026

Vice Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC), Vice-Senior General Soe Win, said that Myanmar and China are good neighbors and expressed confidence that friendship, good neighborliness, goodwill and cooperation between the two countries will rapidly expand in 2026.

On the evening of February 14, at the Thuwunna National Sports Complex (1) in Thingangyun Township, Yangon, Vice-Senior General Soe Win delivered a New Year greeting at the Chinese New Year of the Horse celebration.

The year 2025 was an important year for China-Myanmar relations, and the bilateral relations have reached a new level under the guidance of the top leaders. The two leaders met twice and exchanged congratulatory letters. They took the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations to push forward the deepening of strategic cooperation and the construction of a China-Myanmar community with a shared future for all, which has shown the guidance and strength for the development of bilateral relations. China-Myanmar economic cooperation has achieved new progress, with bilateral trade volume increasing by 19 percent and China's investment in Myanmar increasing by 230 percent, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, said Vice-Senior General Soe Win.

He also said that cultural exchanges between the two countries are also fruitful. The Zhejiang Opera Troupe and the China Film Week have given Myanmar people a practical and vivid experience of China. Last year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Myanmar exceeded 250,000, remaining Myanmar's largest source of tourists. He said that the exchange of visits between Chinese and Myanmar government officials, religious leaders, scholars, artists, youth and athletes has enhanced the understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

This year, the "pauk-phaw" friendship between the two countries has been further enhanced, and the life-saving and relief efforts after the earthquake on March 28, 2025 have demonstrated the great love and affection between China and Myanmar. The Chinese government has provided personnel, equipment and financial support, while the Chinese community in Myanmar has also responded quickly and donated funds and relief supplies. Myanmar-born Chinese young volunteers have played an important role in collecting disaster information, helping to evacuate the injured and providing necessary assistance. When someone is in trouble, everyone comes together to help, which clearly reflects the spirit of being in the same boat, traveling the same journey, and the united spirit of the China-Myanmar community, which shares the same fate, through thick and thin, he said.

The year 2026 is a year full of vitality and vigor, and we will welcome the new year of the horse. China is about to start implementing the 15th Five-Year Plan, and Myanmar is also about to embark on a new journey. We will implement the important points agreed upon by the leaders of the two countries, and jointly strengthen the construction of a community of shared destiny, and promote bilateral cooperation in various sectors. We will also write a new history of China-Myanmar friendly relations together. The horse is a symbol of courage and perseverance, which is very consistent with the spirit of the Chinese brothers and sisters born in Myanmar who have settled in Myanmar for centuries and worked hard. All Chinese brothers and sisters born in Myanmar will continue to serve as bridges and cultural ambassadors between China and Myanmar to use the courage of the Year of the Horse to promote China-Myanmar economic cooperation, further deepen the friendship between the two peoples, and shine a new light on the "pauk-phaw" friendship in the new era. May both China and Myanmar prosper, may the country and people be peaceful, and may all achieve their aspirations and experience good fortune, he said.

Similarly, Vice-Senior General Soe Win, in his New Year greetings, said that with the assistance of China, Myanmar is implementing projects in the education and health sectors for socio-economic development, electricity and energy for infrastructure development, agriculture, industry and transportation. The two countries are cooperating on the Kyaukpyu Deep Sea Port Project, Myitsone Hydropower Project, and oil and natural gas pipeline project. The Muse-Mandalay new railway project and the Mandalay-Kyaukpyu Railway Project are also being implemented. The Muse-Mandalay Railway is the first step in implementing the Kyaukpyu-Kunming Railway Project and is also a key part of the Kyaukpyu-Kunming Railway Project. The Mandalay-Kyaukpyu Railway Project is a great opportunity for China to emerge as an outlet to the Indian Ocean. In addition, Myanmar borders the world's most populous countries, China, Bangladesh, and India, and is geographically located at the crossroads of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China. Myanmar attaches great importance to China’s peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation. Myanmar is a country that is located at the crossroads of transportation and can create an outlet for China to the Indian Ocean. Therefore, during the visit of the Acting President and Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission to China in August 2025, Myanmar has invited China to invest in transportation and infrastructure sectors. If such investment can be made, it will bring great benefits to both countries.

The 2026 Chinese New Year of the Horse ceremony was held at the Thuwunna National Sports Complex (1) in Thingangyun Township on the evening of February 14.

The Chinese New Year of the Horse ceremony was attended by Vice Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services, Commander-in-Chief (Army), Vice-Senior General Soe Win, and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe.

At the ceremony, Union Minister for Defence General Maung Maung Aye, Union Minister for Electric Power U Nyan Tun, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, Chief of Bureau of Special Operations-5 Lt. Gen. Ko Ko Oo, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ko Ko Kyaw, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture and officials cut the ribbon to open the ceremony.

At the ceremony, Chinese traditional dance groups paid homage to the Vice Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission and his wife, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ms. Ma Jia, with lion dance, dragon dance, and martial arts. The Vice Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission and his wife, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ms. Ma Jia returned Chinese New Year gifts.