The 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference of Myanmar, which aims to unite all ethnic nationalities and build a democratic federal union through dialogue, kicked off in Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday.
The four-day historical Panglong Conference gathered representatives of the government, the parliament, the military, invited political parties, ethnic armed and non-armed organizations and civil society totaling about 1,600.
Among the attendees of the government leadership at the opening ceremony were President U Htin Kyaw and two vice presidents.
The 17 ethnic armed organizations present at the event include eight signatories and seven non-signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) , represented by the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), as well as Mongla and Wa groups.
The conference was also attended by UN agencies and resident foreign diplomats in the country.
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, speakers of both houses of the parliament U Win Myint and U Mann Win Khaing Than, Defense Chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing, and chairman of the Kayin National Union Saw Mutu Sae Phoe and vice chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) N' Ban La, Patron of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) U Tin Oo as well as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon delivered opening addresses respectively.
The Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC), the joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) and the Preparatory Committee for the Panglong Peace Conference will submit their reports on the framework for political dialogue to the conference.
Group-wise meetings will take place over the following days of the conference, according to the agenda.
