On 11 August, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Refurbishment Project of the China-aided National Indoor Sports Stadium was held in Yangon. H. E. Mr. Chen Hai, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar, Dr. Myint Htwe, Union Minister for Health and Sports, U Phyo Min Thein, Chief Minister of Yangon Region, U Tin Maung Tun, Speaker of Yangon Region Hluttaw attended the event and cut ribbons for the ceremony.
In his remarks, Ambassador Chen Hai congratulated the project on its commencement and expressed appreciation to the friendly people of the two countries for their support for the project. He said that the Myanmar National Indoor Sports Stadium, funded by the Chinese government in the 1980s, was a landmark project symbolizing the friendship between China and Myanmar. Over the years, a large number of important events were held in the National Indoor Sports Stadium. It enriched the sports and cultural life of the local people and played an important role in promoting the development of sports in Myanmar. In order to further utilize the National Indoor Sports Stadium, the Chinese Government decided to help Myanmar to refurbish the stadium, hoping that China-Myanmar cooperation in the field of people's livelihood will promote the development of the friendly cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Chen Hai said to the students of the Myanmar Sports Institute who attended the ceremony that the youth is the future of the country. I hope that the Myanmar youths make good use of the utilities in the stadium to strengthen their physical fitness, carrying forward the China-Myanmar Pauk-Phaw friendship.
Dr. Myint Htwe said that the National Indoor Sports Stadium is an important symbol of the Pauk-Phaw friendship between Myanmar and China. Since its opening in 1986, the National Indoor Sports Stadium has hosted many international and domestic sports events, trained a large number of sports talents for Myanmar, and widely spread the profound friendship between Myanmar and China. China has contributed a lot to the development of sports in Myanmar, which reflects China's friendliness towards Myanmar. The people of Myanmar will always cherish the great help. The implementation of the Refurbishment Project for the China-aided National Indoor Sports Stadium will open a new chapter for the friendship between China and Myanmar.
U Phyo Min Thein said that National Indoor Sports Stadium is one of the few national level sports venues in Myanmar and has made great contributions to the organization of sports competitions and the training of sports talents in Myanmar. As one of the landmarks of Yangon, the National Indoor Sports Stadium is not only an important leisure place for Yangon citizens, but also an important venue for Myanmar's leaders to organize activities and a place worth visiting for foreign dignitaries. The Yangon Regional Government will make every effort to ensure the smooth implementation of the refurbishment project. It is believed that the upgraded National Indoor Sports Stadium will play a greater role in promoting the development of sports in Myanmar and spreading the friendship between Myanmar and China.
