Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing said on Friday his new government has many challenges to overcome and would seek to enhance international relations and normalise ties with the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN. Min Aung Hlaing was elected president by parliament a week ago, formalising his grip on political power in war-torn Myanmar five years after he led a coup that sent the nation spiraling into chaos. "Myanmar is now well on its way toward democracy but the new government has a lot of challenges to overcome," Min Aung Hlaing said in the speech in the capital Naypyitaw, which lasted less than 20 minutes and was attended by more than 50 foreign guests. "The new government will implement a roadmap based on democracy and federalism ... our priorities are democracy and peace." "We we will enhance international relations and strive to restore normal relations with ASEAN," he later said.

Source: The Standard April 10, 2026 08:25 UTC