Myanmar pledges friendly cooperation with all countries

Myanmar's authorities have vowed to maintain friendly relations with all countries and stability at home in preparation for new elections.

In his first televised public address since assuming power, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, now head of the newly formed State Administration Council, said on Monday that the country's foreign policy, government policy and economic policy will not change before the military hands over power to winning parties of new elections.

Min Aung Hlaing, also commander-in-chief of defense services, reiterated a five-point roadmap to be implemented during a yearlong state of emergency that was announced this month.

Under the roadmap, the Union Election Commission, which was recently reformed, has been reviewing the electoral process of last year's general elections, he said.

The military and parties it backs said the November elections involved massive voting fraud when taking over power on Feb 1. In his speech, Min Aung Hlaing said findings regarding the November elections will be released as soon as possible as investigations are being carried out.

Myanmar will continue anti-pandemic measures, including getting more vaccines, and promote economic recovery, according to an English version of the general's speech published on the website of Myanmar's Office of The Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services.

The United Nations Human Rights Council was scheduled to hold a special session on Friday to discuss the situation in Myanmar.

Chheang Vannarith, president of Phnom Penh-based think tank Asian Vision Institute, said: "The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) does not want to see international sanctions and isolation of Myanmar as in the past."

Myanmar belongs to the 10-member bloc with Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

On Feb 5, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, in a joint statement, said the two countries are pushing for a special ASEAN meeting to discuss the situation in Myanmar.

Chheang Vannarith said even if the ASEAN decides to engage in the situation in Myanmar, it will be "more of a diplomatic engagement" and the bloc will want to seek a diplomatic solution to the issue.

The state of emergency was declared in Myanmar after President U Win Myint and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on Feb 1.

On Tuesday, protests continued to be held in Yangon and other cities in Myanmar, despite a ban on gatherings in certain townships which was announced earlier.

Gatherings of five or more than five persons at public areas are banned in some townships of regions and states under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, said an order issued by the Military True News Information Team.

At the same time, a nighttime curfew, running from 8 pm to 4 am local time, has also been imposed in most townships, according to the order.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

kelly@chinadailyapac.com