"Pauk‑Phaw" — more than friendship: Myanmar President reaffirms brotherly ties with China in Beijing
A 2,000‑kilometre shared border, a shared history, the term "shwe myo" (blood kinship), and a vision of a community with a shared future. President Min Aung Hlaing's five‑day visit to China strengthened a traditional friendship known in Myanmar as "pauk‑phaw" — brotherhood.
As reported by CCTV+, Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing on Wednesday emphasised the friendship and mutual trust between Myanmar and China, adding that "pauk‑phaw" (the friendship between the two countries) will continue to be strengthened. In an interview with China Media Group in Beijing during his five‑day state visit to China, which ended on Friday, the president stated that Myanmar and China share a deep historical friendship that should be continued and developed in the future.
"Myanmar and China have a long history of exchanges. As friendly neighbours, the two countries share a border of more than 2,000 kilometres. We not only enjoy 'shwe myo' ('pauk‑phaw') friendship, but have also reached a consensus on building a mutually beneficial Myanmar‑China community with a shared future, sharing both joys and sorrows. I believe that in developing bilateral relations, Myanmar and China are not just neighbours sharing a border — we must also continue and strengthen our traditional bilateral friendship," he said.
He also elaborated on the essence of "pauk‑phaw" friendship — its meaning and significance — while stressing that Myanmar will continue to be a friendly neighbour to China. "The history of friendly exchanges between Myanmar and China is long and deep. 'Pauk‑phaw' means brothers. The term 'shwe myo' refers to blood kinship and also represents very close and trusting relationships. We use terms like 'shwe myo' and 'pauk‑phaw' to describe Myanmar and China as brothers sharing one bloodline. Cooperation between Myanmar and China is broad in scale and diverse in scope. Both at present and in the long term, we are firmly committed to continuously deepening bilateral cooperation and steadily strengthening mutual trust and friendship. We will work hand in hand to promote regional solidarity and cooperation. This is the best way forward, and Myanmar will continue to be a friendly neighbour of China," he said.
Myanmar and China share a border of more than 2,000 kilometres. In the Burmese language, "pauk‑phaw" means "brothers," and "shwe myo" means "blood kinship." These concepts reflect the depth of historical and cultural ties stretching back centuries. President Min Aung Hlaing's state visit to China took place from June 16 to 20. The talks focused on strengthening economic cooperation, joint infrastructure projects and coordination on regional issues.
When the president of a neighbouring country calls your people "brothers," it is more than diplomatic language. Behind the word "pauk‑phaw" lie centuries of exchange, a 2,000‑kilometre shared border, and a shared understanding that the future is built together. In a world where alliances are often temporary and friendship conditional, Myanmar and China remind us: there are relationships tested not by years — but by centuries. And when a leader speaks of "blood kinship," he speaks not of politics, but of something far deeper — trust that needs no translation.
