Chapter 137 Festive Memories "Paukphaw"

In the past few days, like all the people in China and Myanmar, I have been traveling in a happy and auspicious atmosphere, and joy has filled my limbs. From October 1, 1960, on the east side of the earth, on the border between China and Myanmar, a shining border line more than 2,000 kilometers long appeared. This is an epoch-making line that radiates peace and friendship. The golden border line, its soaring light, illuminates the joyful hearts of people in China and Myanmar, Asia and the whole world, and also illuminates a bright road for the peaceful settlement of international disputes for all countries in the world!

My heart crossed this shining border and flew to our "Paukphaw" Myanmar.In joyful recollection, I recalled many beautiful Burmese sights and many friendly and kind Burmese people. I have been to Myanmar twice, the time is very short, and I only stayed in Yangon, the beautiful capital of Myanmar, but everything I saw excited me, made me happy, and I will never forget it. I will never forget: the Myanmar government and people gave us a brotherly welcome. Prime Minister U Nu received us, and his conversation with us was as cordial as an old friend meeting again.At the banquet hosted by the Minister of Culture, we ate a Cantonese-style banquet and watched songs and dances similar to those of the Chinese ethnic minority compatriots. In the joyful night of lanterns and moonlight, we didn’t feel like we were in a foreign land!

I will never forget that the peaceful Burmese people we met, like Deqin Gotumai, an old man with silver beard and hair, talked about China-Myanmar friendship and world peace.We met with many representative people in the women's and education circles. Although we talked through translators, we found: about the belief that Asian countries coexist peacefully on the basis of the five principles, and about the people of Asia and the world defending the world. Peaceful endeavors, we all share a common language.An atmosphere of peace, friendship and mutual cooperation permeates everywhere. I will never forget: the majestic Burmese Independence Monument we visited, a glorious milestone commemorating the Burmese people's struggle for national independence, and the world-famous golden Shwedagon Pagoda.Around the Shwedagon Pagoda, among the thousands of large and small pagodas, there are still several dedicated by overseas Chinese believers.

On the street where overseas Chinese live, you can see quite a few Chinese bookstores, which display all kinds of domestically published books and periodicals.On the street, people from China and Myanmar are bustling with each other, laughing and chatting. From their happy voices and faces, we can see the friendship like "Paukphaw". There are also bright lakes and mountains on the outskirts of Yangon, lush forests... Although we are just looking at the flowers, the mountains and lakes, amidst the harmonious conversation between the host and the guest, also gave us a feeling of being at home.The scenery of lakes and mountains is very familiar to us.On the border between our two countries, mountains are connected to mountains, and waters are connected to waters. Mountains and waters not only did not cut off our friendship, but also firmly and forever connected our "Paukphaw" friendship, which will last for generations.

I will cherish these beautiful memories forever in my heart.Our 650 million people will always join hands closely with our "Paukphaw" Burmese people to contribute our greatest strength to the development of China-Myanmar friendship and the defense of world peace! (This article was originally published in China Youth Daily on October 5, 1960.)