Nothing more important than peace, stability: Suu Kyi

Nothing is more important than peace and stability, said Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, asserting that her country would like to show the world that it is possible to achieve this.

Ms Suu Kyi made her comments at anofficial dinner at the Istana, hosted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, aspart of her three-day visitto Singapore.

"I'll make no secret of the fact that our country is facing many challenges. But we're not afraid of these challenges because we believe that we have good and understanding friends who will help us overcome them," she said.

Earlier in the day, she told Singapore officials and business leaders thattackling issues of national reconciliation and peace in Myanmarwas "unavoidable", noting that a measure of stability is needed to draw businesses.

Speaking to guests at the official dinner, Ms Suu Kyi said: "Eventually, the real work has to be done by the people of my own country. But my country is just one part of the world – the world to which Singapore also belongs."

She noted that Myanmar and Singapore belong to the same region – and that stability in one country means stability in the other. "It means peace and stability not just in our own countries, but for the region as a whole.

"For this, we want to invite you to be our partners, in hearts and in minds.

"Nothing is more important than peace and stability, and we would like to show the world that it is possible to achieve this."

Concluding her speech, Ms Suu Kyi said: "It is my greatest hope that we can work together; and that the world in which we live … can be one in which different opinions, different faiths, different views can co-exist in peace and harmony."

(CHANNELNEWSASIA)