The guards of honor attend a ceremony held to mark Myanmar's 77th anniversary of the Union Day in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Feb. 12, 2024. Myanmar commemorated the 77th anniversary of the Union Day with a state ceremony in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Monday morning. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
YANGON, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar commemorated the 77th anniversary of the Union Day with a state ceremony in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Monday morning.
The Union Day marked the historic moment on Feb. 12, 1947, when the country's national hero General Aung San, along with over 20 ethnic leaders, signed the Panglong Agreement, pledging to strive for regaining independence from British colonialists.
In his Union Day message, Chairman of the State Administration Council Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that independence and sovereignty gained through union spirit of all ethnic people will continue to be protected only through union spirit.
Min Aung Hlaing also urged all ethnic people to protect the country for long-term existence with union spirit.
Over 1,000 representatives from government, ethnic groups attended the ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw, where armed forces' guards of honor marched in a parade.
Various activities, including small and medium-sized enterprises products expo and horse-racing competitions, were also organized to commemorate the Union Day in the Southeast Asian country. ■
An ethnic girl attends a ceremony held to mark Myanmar's 77th anniversary of the Union Day in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Feb. 12, 2024. Myanmar commemorated the 77th anniversary of the Union Day with a state ceremony in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Monday morning. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
The guards of honor attend a ceremony held to mark Myanmar's 77th anniversary of the Union Day in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Feb. 12, 2024. Myanmar commemorated the 77th anniversary of the Union Day with a state ceremony in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Monday morning. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
The guards of honor attend a ceremony held to mark Myanmar's 77th anniversary of the Union Day in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Feb. 12, 2024. Myanmar commemorated the 77th anniversary of the Union Day with a state ceremony in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Monday morning. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
The guards of honor attend a ceremony held to mark Myanmar's 77th anniversary of the Union Day in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Feb. 12, 2024. Myanmar commemorated the 77th anniversary of the Union Day with a state ceremony in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Monday morning. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)