Written by Mizzima News Monday, 28 December 2009 00:41

Principles of the Independent and Active Foreign Policy as outlined at http://www.mofa.gov.mm/foreignpolicy/independent.html

• respect of and adherence to the principle of equality among peoples and among nations and the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence;
• taking a non-aligned, independent and just stand in international issues;
• maintaining friendly relations with all nations, and good-neighbourly relations with neighbouring countries;
• continued support of, and active participation in, the United Nations and its affiliated organisations;
• pursuance of mutually beneficial bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes;
• regional consultation and beneficial cooperation in regional economic and social affairs;
• active participation in the maintenance of international peace and security and the creation of an equitable economic order and opposition to imperialism, colonialism, intervention, aggression and hegemonism;
• acceptance of foreign assistance which is beneficial to national development, provided there are no strings attached

The Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence was signed between China, Burma and India in Rangoon 1954. It remains the cornerstone of Burma’s policy.

Five principles as listed on http://www.mofa.gov.mm/foreignpolicy/fiveprinciples.html

1. mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty
2. to abide by mutual non-aggression
3. non-interference in each other’s internal affairs
4. respect for mutual equality and to work for mutual benefit
5. peaceful co-existence

Burma’s actions on the international affairs

• actively participating in United Nations activities in accordance with its own basic principle
• consistently supporting disarmament
• opposing arms race, production and sales
• supporting national liberation movements
• supporting decolonialisation
• opposing aggression of imperialists
• opposing colonialism, apartheid and racial discrimination
• supporting efforts to ensure world peace
• opposing aggressive imperialistic wars