XI Moscow Conference on International Security in 2023 held; Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing sends video message
NAY PYI TAW August 16
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation opened the XI Moscow Conference on International Security in 2023 (MCIS-2023) at the Russian Military Patriotic Park in Moscow yesterday. Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing sent a video message.
The conference was declared open at 10 am local standard time, and Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered the opening address in the form of a video message. The Plenary Session 1 was held under the topic “Security in the Middle East and the African Continent:
military aspects” from 12.20 pm to 2 pm; the Plenary Session 2 “Security in the Asia-Pacific Region” from 3.20 pm to 4.50 pm; the Plenary Session 3 “Interaction of defence agencies: conditions and expectations” from 5.20 pm to 7 pm. The address delivered by the Senior General in the form of a video message was screened from 3.52 pm to 4.08 pm during the Plenary Session 2.
A rough translation of the full text of the address is as follows: Although it’s my desire to attend the conference in person, I can only send a video address as I am fully occupied with daily work. “ASEAN unity, vital for the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific Region” is the main message of my discussion.
Asia-Pacific Region covers Asian land territories and Indian Ocean, which is also a home to over 4.3 billion people or more than half the global population.
The world’s most populous countries, China and India, also lie in the region.
Food security is the most basic factor of the region where over 60 percent of the global population is living. Some countries are using the dollar that has connections with financial and security issues as a weapon in trading the main agro-inputs including fuel and chemical fertilizers.
The trade value of the Asia- Pacific Region in 2022 was nearly US$-19 trillion and the value of services trade was US$-3.5 trillion. The region, where about 59 percent of the goods are unloaded and 40 percent loaded , has the heaviest maritime traffic in the world. Of the 30 top container terminals of the world, 20 are in the region, which controls 56 percent of maritime container transport.
China, India and Indonesia are the leading oil producers of the region. Although China is a top oil producer, it has to import oil due to high local demand.
India is the third largest oil consumer in the world after the US and China. In 2022, oil output of Asia-Pacific Region hit 8.3 percent of global oil production.
The region consumed 38 percent of global oil production to fulfill its local demand. According to the indicators of the International Energy Agency the region’s current daily oil demand is 30.8 million barrels and in 2030 the number will reach 38.5 million, thereby creating a huge crude oil and natural gas market.
Because of its high population and important locality for global trade, its vitality in multiple sectors including security issues is increasing. In this regard, the US, European Union and NATO are paying more attention to the region for their own interest and promoting direct or indirect engagements with the countries of the region.
The world is now facing disparities and disagreements due to the breakout of an epidemic, rivalry among global powers, unsolved territorial disputes and recent crises. Intense rivalry for supremacy comes alongside the huge shift in the balance of power. Weakness in the stability and security of the world has a significant impact on the security and economy of the Asia-Pacific Region.
Regional cooperation groups like ASEAN play a vital role in alleviating the impacts of global instability and insecurity. Promotion of mutual talks, realization of conflict resolution processes, development of economic cooperation, and encouragement of cooperative involvement of the countries will be helpful in facing the challenges of the region and restoring global peace, stability and prosperity.
In 1967, initial members Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand signed the ASEAN declaration to form the ASEAN. In 1984, Brunei joined the ASEAN, Vietnam in 1995, Myanmar and Laos in 1997 and Cambodia in 1999.
ASEAN member states with different religions have been firmly upholding the basic principles in the ASEAN Charter adopted in its initial stage as non-interference in internal affairs a member state and peaceful co-existence for 56 years to serving the interests of member states in unison.
Currently, the ASEAN with more than 687 million population and US$-3.66 trillion of GDP is capable of serving the interests of inside and outside regional countries by using its strong power and capacity. Moreover, ASEAN countries utilizing underground and aboveground resources and water resources fulfill energy and food requirements of the world on one hand.
The ASEAN in Asia-Pacific region becomes a drive for regional solidarity and cooperation. It could forge formation of ASEAN Economic Community, Political and Security Community, Social and Cultural Community as well as the unity in economic, political, social and cultural sectors among ASEAN countries.
Although the ASEAN is not a military alliance but its defence power consolidation is very powerful. The consolidation between Vietnam and Myanmar with military experiences and other ASEAN Countries possessing powerful weapons is remarkably reliable for the world. The ASEAN plays a key role in meetings between ASEAN and its partner countries such as East ASIA Summits and ASEAN+3 summits in relations with other powerhouse countries in Asia-Pacific region. Moreover, the association influences over the regional cooperation and helps strengthen mutual cooperation to enhance peaceful relation measures.
As such, the unity of ASEAN is essential for fostering the peace, stability and prosperity of Asia-Pacific region. So, only when the ASEAN is strengthening with consolidation will it be powerful for the Asia-Pacific region. While initiating the unity among member States, the ASEAN is facing challenges of such unity.
With regard to Myanmar, political, economic and security measures can be stabilized in most of the country except some areas of Myanmar. Myanmar is striving for ensuring security, peace and stability, rule of law and economic development of the nation so as to hold a free and fair multi-party democratic general elections to hand over the State responsibilities to the elected political party under the democratic norms.
The ASEAN bridges the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, as a focal point of the Asia-Pacific region. As the unity of ASEAN is of great importance for the peace and stability of the whole Asia-Pacific region, it is necessary to overcome and respond to deep challenges of the region with firm unity and cooperation of regional countries including the ASEAN. The Senior General stressed the need for all to join hands in seeking the peaceful solutions for conflicts and problems among the regional countries and to grasp the opportunities to develop the region.
The 11th MCIS-2023 concluded at 6.30 pm local standard time.
Heads of State from five countries including the Senior General sent video records to the meeting, and it was attended by more than 800 attendees including defence ministers from 20 countries comprising SAC member Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Admiral Tin Aung San, 16 deputy defence ministers from 16 countries, 12 directors from 12 countries.