Myanmar’s union peace conference kicked off on 12 January 2016 in Naypyitaw, ahead of the first round of national-level formal political dialogue between the government and eight ethnic armed groups.
The conference, which runs through Saturday, is the biggest gathering of political forces in the country since its independence in 1948, said President U Thein Sein.
Attending the opening ceremony of the peace conference were also Vice President Sai Mauk Kham, Parliament Speakers U Shwe Mann and U khin Aung Myint, Chairperson of the Committee for Rule of Law and Tranquility of the House of Representatives Aung San Suu Kyi and Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing, among others.
Hundreds of representatives from stakeholder groups of the government, parliament, military and the eight ethnic armed groups that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA), as well as political parties and other players, are present at the conference.
The five main topics set for discussions at the peace conference cover political, security, economic and social issues, as well as issues related to land and natural resources.