IN DEPTH

MYANMARDRIVING CHANGE IN ASIA: NEWLY OPEN, IS A TREASURE TROVE OF NATURAL ASSETS, CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND ENTHUSIASM FOR THE FUTURE.

28 Discover the backroads, byways and people of a nation on the move

38 Investigate our data-driven snapshot of a country in transition

40 Ambassador Derek Mitchell shares his thoughts on Myanmar today

26 WORLD WILDLIFE MAGAZINE 27 IN DEPTH Myanmar

All Roads

In a natural wonderland newly engaged with the outside world, Myanmar’s people envision a thoroughly modern, nature-based path.

by Scott Wallace photographs by Stephen Kelly

bouncing in 4x4s along a gash of red earth gouged into the mountainside, it feels as though we’re entering a freshly exposed primal wil- derness few outsiders have ever seen before. Rivers—a remarkable number of which remain free flowing and unobstructed—knife their way through narrow gorges. Towering canopy trees bare their trunks as they rise from steep valley walls. Ashen clouds hang low, threatening rain. We wait—five minutes, then ten—as earthmov- ers shove avalanches of stones and soil down the cliff, opening the way forward.

28 WORLD WILDLIFE MAGAZINE TIGER: © JOEL SARTORE/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE IN DEPTH Myanmar

I’m traveling with a team of conservationists from WWF into the sprawling rain forests of the , along the southern tail of Myanmar. These are boom times, and this road project heralds the end of 50 years of isolation and limited outside investment. Like the road itself, opening on to new vistas with every twist and turn, Myanmar is mov- ing forward into exciting but uncertain terrain, rife with opportunities and challenges. Foreign proposed highway investment is pouring in at a staggering pace. existing road network Laws are being rewritten across the board, existing and proposed covering everything from land ownership and protected areas press freedom to environmental rules. As Myanmar looks to the future, WWF has seized this moment to step in to help make the country a model of sustainable development.

KANCHANABURI, This huge, expensive and long-planned road project notwithstanding, national officials ap- DAWEI, MYANMAR pear keen on preserving the country’s vast trove of natural riches, even while positioning BANGKOK, the country to leapfrog into the 21st century. THAILAND “This is a huge window of opportunity to get environmental considerations integrated into all these new policies—social, energy, ag- riculture, land use, direct foreign investment,” says Kate Newman, senior director of WWF’s public sector initiatives. “We want to support the integration of green economic principles into their national economic plan.” How will Dawei’s planned deep sea port, industrial zone and the proposed superhighway to Bangkok A lifelong conservationist with decades of affect the biologically rich Tanintharyi region, home field experience around the world, Newman to endangered tigers, elephants and primates? is scrunched into the SUV’s backseat with That’s one of the key questions WWF and its Michelle Owen, Myanmar’s conservation pro- partners will seek to answer in the coming years as gram manager for WWF. Besides providing the mega-development begins to take shape. As the largest Global Tiger Priority Landscape in the Greater advice at the policy level, Newman says, WWF Mekong Region, the cross-boundary region could will help the government strengthen protec- harbor as many as 250 tigers, hundreds of Asian tions for existing national parks and determine A NEW PATH elephants and countless other important species where best to locate new ones. In the countryside, many adolescents forgo educa- (see page 39 for a sample of some of Myanmar’s At least initially, those efforts will be focused more unique creatures). tion to work long hours at here in the Tanintharyi, for its staggering bio- To inform the development of the road, WWF is back-breaking tasks. That’s working to expand the baseline of knowledge about diversity—including endangered Indochinese beginning to change, with the area so that decisions can be made about the tigers, Asian elephants, gibbons and langurs— more families choosing to route and its environmental implications. Future and for the urgency to protect it, as one of the keep their children in school. surveys will continue to unlock the mysteries of its country’s largest new infrastructure projects largely untouched forests. gets under way. A deep-water port and sprawl- ing industrial park are under construction on the Andaman coast, just outside the city of Da- wei. Farther inland, road crews are pushing east through this rugged landscape of rushing rivers and upland forest toward the border of Thailand. If the new superhighway to Thailand is completed as planned, it will link Dawei di- rectly to Bangkok and hasten the integration of Myanmar with the nine other members of

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the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ment of their resources will be a fundamental ASEAN. More tangibly, it will provide a rapid part of our program,” says Newman. new route for people and commerce straight That view jibes with the vision articulated across Indochina to the Indian Ocean, drawing by WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts. the region closer to markets in South Asia and Roberts met personally with President Thein the Middle East. Sein when he came to Washington last year, “This is one of the most biodiverse areas in and he has also conferred with Aung San Suu the world,” says Owen, as the earthmovers pull Kyi, the hugely popular opposition leader to the side and allow us to pass. “But we don’t who is expected to run for president in 2015. yet have any empirical data. It’s all anecdotal.” For Roberts, the opening of Myanmar and its Biodiversity and social surveys are planned for leaders’ avowed commitment to green prin- these forests in the coming year. The results ciples, even in the midst of rapid change and will help WWF understand the importance of economic growth, presents an unprecedented nature to local society and the scientific com- challenge. “We’re moving faster than we ever munity, as well as how and where to put new have to bring the lessons we’ve learned around national parks and biodiversity corridors to the world to bear in support of a government protect the rich diversity of species. that wants to do the right thing at this pivotal moment in its history.” nother kind of highway—a wholly unfortunate one—exists here as istory is present everywhere in Myan- Technology for nature well. Wildlife trafficking is a major mar—so much so that many still Aconcern in this corner of the world. Myanmar know the country by its former name, In 2013, WWF collaborated with the Ministry of Environmental serves as a major corridor for smugglers of ex- Burma. In Yangon, the country’s largest city H Conservation and Forestry, otic species and animal parts throughout and former capital, gleaming office towers and the Smithsonian Conservation Southeast Asia and China. Clearly here in the construction cranes rise above crumbling co- Biology Institute and the Green Tanintharyi, efforts to curb wildlife poaching lonial-era buildings and warrens of ancient Economy Green Growth Associa- will depend on gaining the trust and collabo- streets. Everywhere, it seems, people and wares tion in Myanmar to organize a ration of the local population. Just 15 minutes are on the move, piled into pickup trucks, cling- Geospatial Analysis Training and Strategic Planning Workshop. up the road, we pull off at a ramshackle road- ing to the rooftops of exhaust-belching buses. A Participants learned how to use house where the proprietor is proudly serving massive new overpass is being built to smooth Geographic Information Systems a putrid-smelling langur stew. The owner, a traffic, but instead snarls traditional roadways. (GIS) and other geospatial barrel-chested man in his forties, tells us he So, immersed in Yangon’s tension between technologies to measure human pays hunters the equivalent of $1.50 per pound old and new, we head out on another road—this impact on the local environ- ment. During the training and for the primates they bring in from the forest. one a route linking Yangon to the ancient city of planning process, nine govern- With the increased road traffic, the owner Bagan. There is no better way to feel a country’s ment ministries and over 50 notes, wild game is getting scarcer, and the pulse than to venture deep into its heartland, people, including the rector of price he pays is going up. so we aim for the back roads north on a route the University of Forestry, Dr. And although it might be tempting to scold that parallels the fabled . We Myint Oo, determined how best to use these free, open-source the restaurant owner or try to shut him down, pass the spectacular Shwedagon Pagoda and tools to advance the sustainabil- CHANGING TIMES Owen knows a crackdown on such small-time its immense golden spire and lavish shrines on ity and resilience of Myanmar’s A young logger and his purveyors would likely be counterproduc- our way out of town. economic and social landscapes. elephant emerge from the tive. “Often you end up driving the trade Soon we break free of Yangon’s congested Tanintharyi forests. Thou- underground, where it’s much harder to arteries and find ourselves winding our way sands of captive elephants monitor,” she says. “Bushmeat is often used through bucolic villages bordered by electric- like this one are used to harvest in Myanmar. as a local protein source, and you don’t want green rice paddies, where farmers topped with With new restrictions on to criminalize communities that hunt for per- conical hats stoop to tend the precious crop. timber exports due to take sonal consumption. What you want is to have Kids with long poles on their shoulders bal- effect in April, the use of communities supporting efforts to stop com- ance buckets of water or baskets of grass. Motor elephants to extract logs mercial exploitation.” scooters haul trailers loaded with stacks of from the jungle may soon be a thing of the past. Indeed, the experiences of WWF in other green bamboo. developing countries, such as Namibia and Ne- We stop in the village of Hmaw to watch pal, point to the critical role local populations fishermen casting nets into a stream. Ko Mya play in conserving natural resources when they Thein, 45, says he will sell his catfish to a local actively participate in decisions affecting the middleman, who in turn sells them to an ex- Join Myanmar locals on the move. use of those resources. “Enabling communities porter with connections in Japan and China. Download the free World Wildlife to improve their lives through better manage- His teeth are stained red from chewing betel magazine app on your tablet.

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nut, a mild stimulant, and he’s wearing a baggy “I am so proud to be from Myanmar, fatigue shirt two sizes too big for his wiry frame. and to help make sure environmental WORD ON THE STREET “Life is hard,” he acknowledges, “but it’s Locals eat, drink, talk—and conservation happens in parallel with getting better.” He’s not sure about the mean- take in the news—at a economic development. Youth are streetside teashop on ing of green development, but he knows his Pansodan Jetty in down- livelihood depends on abundant, clean water. poised to play a role in a green future town Yangon. His grandchildren are just starting school, for Myanmar because we are excited and he hopes some day they will become about new ways of thinking and doing well-paid professionals. He shoulders a beam loaded with scores of small fishing traps and things. We are blessed to live in a wishes us well. beautiful country with such natural riches that we need to make sure n the town of Kyu Chaung, we remove our they continue to thrive.” shoes at a gate guarded by a pair of ornate MYA NWE, Program Associate, Greater Mekong Program dragons and enter the grounds of a small Imonastery. An attendant ushers us into a spa- grader Nan Wai Wai Hlaing, with a shy smile. cious, sparsely appointed room, where we kneel Her grandfather beams proudly. “I want them on mats opposite two middle-aged monks to get a good education,” he says, “so they can draped in saffron robes. Dishes of shrimp, fried become teachers themselves and help the vil- rice cakes and a plate of ground nuts mixed lage to develop.” with pickled leaves, called laphet, are brought forth. The monks beckon us to eat. rderly confusion may be the best “I am pleased with our president and what way to describe early morning in the he is doing for the development of the coun- bustling market of Pyay on the banks try,” one of them says. He’s also pleased with a Oof the Irrawaddy River. On display is an as- nationwide government campaign to raise envi- tonishing array of fruits and vegetables, eels ronmental awareness. “The climate depends on and fish, herbs and medicines, rice and beans. keeping our forests healthy. It’s our responsi- The streets are clogged with bicycles and rick- bility as monks to help raise the consciousness shaws—merchants unloading sacks of grain of our followers.” To that end, the monastery and clutches of unfortunate hens, bound to- recently organized villagers to plant 300 trees. gether upside down at the feet. In fact, between 1990 and 2010, the estimat- As the sun rises high enough to banish ed area of dense forest cover in the country the cool shadows, Ma Zar and her neighbor- dropped from more than 45% to less than 20%. ing fishmongers erect a canvas shelter on the WWF estimates that up to a third of the remain- street corner to protect their wares from spoil- ing woodlands could be lost in the next 20 years age. Talkative and funny, Ma Zar, 33, is happy without the imposition of new controls, which with the morning’s business. “I’ve made a lot are due to take effect in the coming months. of money today,” she laughs. Forced to drop Still, in town after town, we come across out of school after first grade, she expects newly erected billboards exhorting citizens to a brighter future for her children—a dream care for the environment. “Save a tree, save which she believes has been made possible by a life,” reads one sign. “Help your environ- Myanmar’s democratic opening. ment—take care of the forest,” reads another. As the long road nears Bagan, we see a “To have a green society, everyone should plant dozen women working at widening the thor- trees,” proclaims a third. The message seems oughfare, shoveling freshly split rocks into to be taking hold, especially among Myan- baskets and hauling them to the lane under mar’s younger generation, where it will count construction. It’s yet another example of prog- most in the years ahead. ress reshaping a pastoral landscape where In the town of Baung De, throngs of chil- narrow roads wind through emerald green, dren stream out of the yard of the local middle grass-covered hills and wooden oxcarts still school. Amid the shrill, excited cries of the outnumber cars two-to-one. students, elderly rickshaw driver U San Shwe “This road will bring more foreigners here— sits stoically on his rig, waiting to take his two like you,” says Ma Wai, 20, a young woman granddaughters home. whose cheeks are smudged with beige thana- “It’s very important not to destroy the ka paste, commonly used for cosmetic beauty forest,” says the older of the two girls, sixth- and to protect skin against the blistering sun.

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“They will all be welcome here.” It’s not the We’re greeted by three dozen beaming kind of talk you’d expect from a young woman children sitting cross-legged on the floor. To consigned to such strenuous labor. She makes the syrupy strains of an electric keyboard, around 2,000 kyat a day, she tells us—about they rise to their feet and belt out a heart- two dollars. But clearly, she doesn’t think of wrenching song about the hardships they’ve herself as poor. “I’m proud of doing honest managed to overcome, thanks to the love work,” she proclaims, pushing her conical hat and protection they’ve found here. In keep- off her forehead to wipe her brow. “I’m proud ing with her Buddhist philosophy of giving of helping to build the new Myanmar!” back, Nwe has paid for a dinner for the kids. Plates of stewed chicken, steaming rice and s we pass through the ancient walls of stir-fried vegetables are served, followed by Bagan, its dazzling pagodas and stu- vanilla ice cream. As Nwe says her goodbyes, pas loom in the dawn light like dozens the children rise from the table to sing “Happy Aof giant chess pieces. From the terrace of the Birthday.” The shrill voices are so filled with 11th-century Shwesandaw Pagoda, we gaze out love and tenderness that she has to fight to over the Bagan plain spreading before us, a doz- hold back her tears. The Mother River en pagodas aglow in the golden light of sunrise. She has gotten what she came here for. of Myanmar It’s a quiet scene with few visitors, but “In Myanmar, our culture teaches empathy that peacefulness already faces new ebbs and and compassion,” she says. “The very idea of The Irrawaddy River, which spans flows. An advertising executive from New York karma encourages people to be kind to one an- the length of the country and appreciates the stillness, saying, “This is still other.” That philosophy extends to the natural empties into the Andaman Sea, is growing increasingly silted a place for more hardy, backpacker sorts of world as well, Nwe says, filling her with hope and congested due to deforesta- travelers. I think they have a greater appre- that future generations will care for the envi- tion, agricultural erosion and ciation for what they’re seeing than a casual ronment, even as they seek greater prosperity. other threats. At its southern tourist who gets out to snap a picture and then “It’s not only about taking care of the poor, reaches, the river’s delta is home moves on.” He’s heard that Myanmar still has but also taking care of the animals. If you do to a coastal mangrove system that is being slowly converted undiscovered species of wildlife, and hopes harmful things to the environment, that will for aquaculture, agriculture that tomorrow’s tourists will be as respectful come back to hurt you.” and development. But WWF is of that mystery as today’s. developing an assessment of the As the day circles toward nightfall, Bagan’s we’s way of thinking about her river’s sediment flows and hydrol- energy changes, and a growing cacophony of country’s future matches the opti- ogy—all toward more effectively hawkers and vendors set up their wares for the mism of the rest of WWF’s staff. protecting it in the future. On a recent visit, members packed bustle of tourists arriving for spectacu- NMichelle Owens expressed it well as she jolted of the Helmsley Charitable lar sunset views. More and more tour operators along the road snaking above the rain-swollen Trust—a major supporter of are lining up to handle an anticipated ground- Tenasserim River. From that bumpy vantage WWF’s growing engagement in swell in foreign guests, and the scene at sunset point, she was sizing up the country’s vast re- the region—met with local fish- makes it clear, as pink and orange light drench- serves of fresh water, its unobstructed rivers, ermen who demonstrated the custom of collaborative fishing es the ancient temples, that Bagan has entered and the ecological services its forests offer, with the river’s iconic Irrawaddy the modern era. Tourist after tourist shoots such as habitat for endangered wildlife and the dolphins. Using a centuries-old photos and videos, then instantly sends the im- sequestration of carbon. system of hand signals and ages out to the larger world. “The decisions they make about all this slaps to the side of their boat, natural capital will form the foundation of their the fishermen guided the dol- phins to herd fish into mutually n our return to Yangon, Mya Nwe, future,” Owen said. “We’d like to provide the rewarding masses. “It was yet the youngest member of WWF’s capacity to help Myanmar make the best deci- another example of the country’s Myanmar team in the US, provides sions they can, so that everyone will benefit, not fundamental links between thriv- Oadditional cause to believe in the “new Myan- just today but in future generations as well.” ing wildlife and human good,” mar.” A native of Yangon, Nwe earned a That’s why WWF is so invested in Myan- says Rosalind Becker, the trust’s FAITHFUL GAZE program associate for conserva- bachelor's degree in environmental studies at mar, adds Carter Roberts. “Our work is really A young Buddhist tion and medical research. St. Olaf College in Minnesota before moving to about supporting communities and national monk in the ancient WWF-US headquarters in Washington, DC, in leaders to keep the country’s nature, wildlife city of Bagan. Nearly 90% of Burmese 2012. Nwe is back home for a visit, a profes- and traditional cultures intact—to protect identify themselves sional trip that happens to coincide with her its heart and soul.” Myanmar today stands as adherents to the 23rd birthday. She has arranged for a special astride two worlds—the old and the new, the Buddhist faith. celebration at Grace Home, an orphanage in the ancient and the thoroughly modern. That ten- rough-and-tumble Kyeemyintaing Township of sion is what makes this country so compelling, Yangon, and she invites us to come along. so urgent, and so full of hope.

36 WORLD WILDLIFE MAGAZINE 37 IN DEPTH Myanmar THE ST TOTAL POPULATION 1980: 34,474,755

A 2012: 52,797,319 PEOPLE AND NATURE TE OF MY 53.14% The proposed port and road at Dawei, along with the related SINCE 1980 GEOGRAPHY. NATURE. railroad and power lines, will open up new economic opportunities SOURCE: World Bank while creating access for remote communities. But the road could be ANMAR devastating, depending on where it goes. We are proud to work with POPULATION BY AGE ECONOMICS. CULTURE. 0-14 (children) 26.7% WWF to assess the potential impact of the road on forests, tigers and 15-24 (early working) 18.6% rural communities—and with WWF, The Wildlife Conservation Society 25-54 (prime working) 42.8% and Flora and Fauna International to assess the potential of other 55-64 (mature working) 6.7% 65+ (elderly) 5.2% UNDERSTAND ASIA’S development opportunities nationwide. Together, we hope to provide the government with the information it needs to make sustainable SOURCE: CIA World Factbook (2013) decisions about how it protects, uses and extracts value from its land. NEW PIVOT POINT TODAY. A TRANSITIONAL COUNTRY JOHN CODEY AND DR. ROBERT A. COOK, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust “Myanmar is categorized as a For years, Myanmar was largely isolated from much of the world. Today, a vibrant, ambitious and forward-looking ‘transitional’ country in terms of its age national culture is gaining ground. In 2013, WWF issued a report on the ecosystems of Myanmar and the Greater makeup. Countries in the transitional category stand to experience significant Mekong region: we share some key indicators of the nation’s natural wealth here. benefits from demographic change, if their governments take advantage of the INCREDIBLE WILDLIFE opportunity it presents. Between 1970 and 1999, these countries experienced an average annual economic growth rate of 3.6 percent.”

SOURCE: Population Action International

RELIGIONS Buddhist 89% Muslim 4% ASIAN ELEPHANT MYANMAR SNUB-NOSED FEA’S MUNTJAC Baptist 3% Weighing around 11,000 Muntiacus feae inhabits MONKEY Other 2% pounds, this forest giant the evergreen forests that When it rains, Rhinopithe- Animist 1% (Elephas maximus indicus) hug the Thailand-Myanmar cus strykeri—discovered Roman Catholic 1% spends more than two- border. Extremely elusive, it only in 2010—tucks its thirds of its day grazing rarely leaves the woods and head between its knees to SOURCE: CIA World Factbook on available plants. its numbers are unknown. keep water from entering its upturned nose. NATURAL RESOURCES PETROLEUM TIMBER TIN ANTIMONY COPPER TUNGSTEN LEAD COAL INDOCHINESE TIGER GURNEY’S PITTA FOUR-TOED TERRAPIN MARBLE Panthera tigris corbetti can Pitta gurneyi is endemic Over-collection of eggs LIMESTONE weigh up to 550 pounds. to Myanmar and Thailand. has sped the decline in PRECIOUS STONES As of 2010, only 350 were Thought extinct after populations of the river- NATURAL GAS estimated to be roaming the 1950s, the vibrantly dwelling Batagur baska, HYDROPOWER the forests of the entire colored little bird was one of the world’s most Greater Mekong region. rediscovered in 1986, but threatened turtles. SOURCE: CIA World Factbook remains endangered. elephants rivers tigers TOTAL LAND AREA 261,233 SQUARE MILES water bodies possible tiger habitat SOURCE: FAOSTAT 2011 FORESTS FRESHWATER SPECIES 1990 OTHER Historically, elephant and tiger habitat 16% ROADS DAMS spanned nearly the entire country. AGRICULTURAL Myanmar lost approximately 24 percent of In addition to supporting biodiversity, intact Today, the elephants’ range is heavily PINK-HEADED DUCK IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN SLENDER-BILLED 60% its natural forest cover between 1973 and river systems provide myriad benefits for fragmented, while tigers are known Rhodonessa caryophyllacea Orcaella brevirostris, a VULTURE FOREST blunt-snouted dolphin 2009. Large contiguous blocks of forest people: fisheries, irrigation, rich sediments for to remain in only two strongholds— once frequented Myan- In Myanmar, Gyps 2011 remain across the country, but unless green agriculture and refreshing freshwater flows mar’s riverine swamps, but related to the killer whale, tenuirostris numbers are OTHER one far north, the other in Myanmar’s this critically endangered inhabits both the Irrawaddy falling due to both eating 19.2% economic planning takes hold, deforest- to coastal marine fisheries and aquaculture. AGRICULTURAL Tanintharyi region along the eastern bird is now believed extinct. and Mekong rivers. Less drug-treated livestock ation for timber, along with the country’s While dams threaten this natural cycle, if border with Thailand. Here, cross-border than 100 are thought left carcasses and shrinking 48.2% growing network of roads (including the properly planned, hydropower could deliver cooperation is vital to the long-term per- in the Mekong. availability of prey. FOREST proposed Dawei-Bangkok highway) could renewable energy for human needs while mini- sistence of both elephants and tigers. SOURCE: World Bank accelerate the deforestation trend. mizing impacts on the rivers’ natural flow.

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The World Is Watching AMBASSADOR DEREK J. MITCHELL was confirmed as the US Ambassador to the Republic of the Union of Burma on June 29, 2012, by the US Ambassador Derek Mitchell explains why Burma* United States Senate. He has is so important right now worked on security and for- eign policy issues in the region for more than 20 years.

uring my first year as US Ambassa- wide variety of cultures and traditions that dor, I have been privileged to be part make up this remarkable country. That diver- Dof a new chapter in the relationship between sity in people and landscape is part of what the United States and Burma. makes the country special and what has com- As President Obama said to a local audi- plicated its recent history. ence in his speech at Rangoon University here Nonetheless, the Burmese people are united one year ago, Burma lies “at the crossroads in their deep pride of their country’s spec- of East and South Asia. You border the most tacular environmental landscape. Burma is a populated nations on the planet. You have a country rich in national resources and natu- history that reaches back thousands of years, ral heritage. As the country looks forward to and the ability to help determine the destiny of an era of development and change, one gets a the fastest-growing region of the world.” real sense that many citizens fear losing some Our relationship is not new. The United of that which has been passed down by succes- States was among the first countries to recognize sive generations, in essence the heart and soul Burma following the country’s independence of the country, on the altar of development. from Great Britain in 1948. But due to serious I am very pleased that World Wildlife Fund political differences over the past 25 years, our has dedicated itself to working with Burma’s relationship moved steadily into a deep freeze. government and civil society to chart a way Those days are over. In response to the posi- forward for sustainable growth and natural tive changes we have witnessed in recent years, preservation in this country, and to sharing the United States has normalized diplomatic the words and pictures of today’s Burma with relations, exchanged ambassadors, and substan- its readers. tially eased economic sanctions on the country, As Burma assumes the ASEAN chair this opening the door for U.S. trade and investment. year, and in 2015 holds its next general elec- Today, we are once again reengaging at tion, the world will be watching. The United all levels and sectors to reestablish a historic States is confident in the tenacity and deter- partnership that promises to bring benefits to mination of the people of Burma to build a both countries and serve broad common inter- peaceful, just, and prosperous society. While ests. The possibilities of partnership are great, the challenge ahead is great, the United States, and the United States looks forward to seizing along with many others in the international multiple opportunities to forge deep and last- community, inside and outside of government, ing ties in coming years. stand ready to assist. The Burmese people likewise appear eager to make up for lost time: to take advantage of nascent openings and opportunities and learn about best practices in a range of fields; to develop their knowledge and capacity; and to * The United States’ official policy continues to be that “Burma” is create an open, free, democratic and prosper- the official name of the country, but in diplomatic exchanges with the government, the United States uses the name “Myanmar.” ous society for themselves and their families. For example, in using “Myanmar” during President Thein Sein’s A core source of strength—and challenge— visit, we want to demonstrate support for and show respect to his for Burma lies in its national diversity, the government, which is pursuing an ambitious reform agenda.

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