MYANMAR MEDIA ON CHINA’S POLITICAL OPENNESS

By Wang Fang

Group photo of Myanmar journalists in front of the Great Hall of the People before the opening of the first session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee on March 3.

After the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC)National Congress in October last year, the global spotlight has once again turned to China for its annual Two Sessions: the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the first session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The Two Sessions of 2018 from March 3 to 20 set a record for being the longest in 25 years. More than 3,000 journalists, 1,000 of them foreign, followed the proceedings.

A group of 13 journalists from mainstream media outlets of Myanmar visited China from March 2 to 9 to report on the Two Sessions and other developments by attending the themed activities related to the Two Sessions. After learning about China’s achievements over the last five years and plans for the future, attendees left with the impression of an open and confident China.

Focusing on Chinese Achievements

The annual political event has always drawn focus from foreign and domestic media alike. Because China’s development is so closely related to the world, an increasing number of media outlets from neighboring countries are eager to understand and learn from China’s experience and ideas.

Aye Kyu, editor-in-chief of Democratic Wave, the official paper of the National League for Democracy (NLD) of Myanmar, turns 70 years old this year. He is an experienced observer who has closely followed China’s economic and social development. He visited Beijing last year for the 19th CPC National Congress. When our reporter met him at the airport, his arm was covered with plaster casts. He admitted with a wry smile that he broke it in an accident five days earlier. Nevertheless, he had still come to report on the Two Sessions, showing impressive commitment.

“The Two Sessions this year are another major event after the 19th CPC National Congress,” said Aye Kyu. “I’m certain that this year’s Two Sessions will bear more fruit.

“From Premier Li Keqiang’s Government Work Report, I learned much about China’s achievements over the last five years and plans for the next five years,” Aye Kyu continued. “I am also quite interested in the institutional reform of China’s Party and state organs, the election of new leadership and its talent training programs. In these aspects, China has a lot of experience for Myanmar to learn from.”

Contrasting Aye Kyu, Htet Htet Win is a junior reporter with Myanmar International Radio. Her trip to China for the Two Sessions was her first,and she did her homework beforehand. She carefully read the 2017 Government Work Report and made her own forecast of the hot topics of the Two Sessions this year.“There’s a lot for us to follow closely this year including China’s proactive approach to its foreign relations, its highspeed economic growth and the future of this growth,” said Win. “The sessions are very important for China’s future development. I believe the Chinese economy will continue to prosper in the future.”

Tha Sein, chief editor of Myanmar News Agency,also focused on Premier Li’s Government Work Report.He noted that from the report, he got a good idea of China’s economic and social development, including its GDP, per capita GDP, poverty alleviation efforts, plans to cultivate talent and a lot more.“Information on China’s employment and urban planning is also very helpful to us,” remarked Tha Sein.“Myanmar needs to improve in these areas. I hope the Myanmar government will learn from the successful experiences [of China].”

From the perspectives of the Myanmar journalists, the Communist Party of China has successfully led the Chinese people over the past five years in making impressive achievements in economic development, environmental protection, poverty alleviation and many other sectors.

“The Two Sessions this year are another major event after the 19th CPC National Congress,” said Aye Kyu. “I’m certain that this year’s Two Sessions will bear more fruit.

Myanmar journalists visit China International Publishing Group on March 3.

Appreciating Chinese Practice

“I was impressed with the spectacle of the Great Hall of the People, especially the deputies singing the national anthem in unison,” declared Aye Kyu to our reporter after the opening ceremony of the first session of the 13th NPC.

Aye Kyu recalled his experience at the 19th CPC National Congress last year.He was quite excited with the opportunity to raise a question at a press conference.“Foreign journalists, like their Chinese counterparts, get the opportunity to ask questions at press conferences,” he said. “This signifies China’s increased openness for the press.”

Htet Htet Win with Myanmar International Radio at an interview after the opening meeting of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress on March 5.

The Myanmar media delegation takes a group photo at the press center for the Two Sessions in Beijing Media Center Hotel.

Aye Kyu considers organizing press conferences where journalists can interact with the NPC deputies and CPPCC members during the Two Sessions a good idea. He appreciates this practice, which demonstrates the wisdom and confidence of China.

“I feel lucky and proud for the chance to visit China to report on the Two Sessions,”said Thet Thet Moe Thu,senior reporter for Democracy Today. Her major interest in the Government Work Report was poverty alleviation efforts.She said that unlike Myanmar,China is huge and rich, but similarly is still coping with a poverty-stricken population.China has taken many effective measures to reduce poverty,some of which might be applicable to Myanmar.

Zuly Moe, senior reporter of Myanma Alinn Daily, has also paid close attention to poverty reduction in China.She marveled at China’s achievements in this field.She believed that poverty alleviation has brought tangible benefits to the Chinese people. Additionally,the Chinese government has accomplished much in infrastructure construction and improving living standards.She hopes that Myanmar will benefit from China’s experience and accelerate its own development.

Impressively Harmonious Interaction

Myanmar journalists were quite happy with the services provided for the media. In Beijing Media Center Hotel,a press center for the Two Sessions was designated for thematic press briefings and 24-hour services for domestic and foreign journalists. There was also a special office providing services to foreign journalists.

Thet Thet Moe Thu benefited a lot from the trip. According to her, NPC deputies and CPPCC members hail from different walks of life from all over the whole country, attaching great importance to the opinions of the people. Based on their own experience and investigations,they present proposals to the sessions for deliberation. This shows how Chinese politics are open and democratic.

During their journey,the Myanmar journalists participated in a handful of press briefings and interviewed NPC deputies and CPPCC members. Htet Htet Win said that she has benefited considerably from the meetings, briefings and interviews during the trip.

Zuly Moe said that she learned from the visit that communication between the Chinese government and people is free and smooth,and that the government has actively responded to key issues of public interest while efforts made by the government have paid off.