July 2026 State of the Union Address to Pyidaungsu Hluttaw

Min Aung Hlaing, the president of Myanmar, delivered a State of the Union address on July 31, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. MMT, in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Building in Naypyidaw to the joint session of third Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. Delivered on the 12th day of the Second Regular Session, the speech marked the government's first 100 days in office and outlined ProgresS on its 100-Day Plan, national peace initiatives, economic development, regional diplomacy, and youth education. Presiding over the joint session was Aung Lin Dwe, the Speaker of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (concurrently serving as the Speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw), alongside Khin Yi, the Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw. It was notably the first State of the Union since the adoption of 2008 Constitution of Myanmar, where the Speaker of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw bowed to the president and sat below the podium.

The joint session was attended by 539 out of 560 registered lawmakers (accounting for a 96.25% attendance rate), alongside senior cabinet ministers, military leaders, and civil service department heads. Min Aung Hlaing delivered the report in accordance with Section 210 of the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar and Section 65 of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law.

Five-year roadmap and administrative goals

Min Aung Hlaing outlined a comprehensive five-year roadmap for his administration. He stated that his government would spend its first two years building momentum to establish a modern nation based on democracy and a federal system, followed by three years executing national development at full speed. Addressing electoral representation, he announced that special by-elections would be held in 2027 across 172 constituencies that were unable to participate in the 2025–2026 general elections due to active conflict and security concerns.

National security and defense

The president reaffirmed his administration's commitment to implementing the national conscription law to enhance the capabilities of the military and police forces.

While acknowledging that a significant number of young adults aged 18 to 34 had emigrated—affecting national economic development—he emphasized that strengthening defense infrastructure remained a primary state objective against “[...] organizations” disrupting the union.

Foreign policy

Min Aung Hlaing offered a direct critique of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), dismissing its Five-Point Consensus peace plan and accusing the 11-member regional block of discriminating against Myanmar. He stated, “We have been patient. We will respond to non-constructive actions on a case-by-case basis.” He also reported on state anti-crime measures, noting efforts to counter cross-border money laundering, illicit arms trade, drug trafficking, and online scam operations, claiming that over 72,000 foreign nationals linked to such activities had been repatriated to 58 countries.

Peace talk

Reflecting on the government's 100-Day Plan (running from April 20 to July 31, 2026), the president declared that the state "keeps the peace door open forever." He confirmed that the administration had renewed unconditional peace invitations to both signatories and non-signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

As part of the 100-day evaluation, he reported holding formal peace talks with 13 Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs):

NCA Non-Signatories: Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), United Wa State Army (UWSA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Chin National Organization (CNO), and NSCN-K/Ang Mai.

NCA Signatories: Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), KNU/KNLA-PC, New Mon State Party (NMSP), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and Arakan Liberation Party (ALP).

To achieve sustainable reconciliation, Min Aung Hlaing urged armed groups to negotiate for realistic and attainable outcomes rather than making "impossible demands that prolong national instability."

Infrastructure, economy, and agriculture

To boost economic growth and reduce transit costs, the president prioritized key regional connectivity projects, including the 1,400 km India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway and the 410 km Mandalay–Muse Railway connecting to the Chinese border.

He detailed several infrastructure and energy initiatives:

Power Projects: Progress on 10 major power generation developments, including the resumption of work on the controversial Myitsone Dam hydropower project—which had been suspended for over a decade—and initial frameworks for nuclear power generation in cooperation with foreign partners.

Aviation & Transport: Completion of runway and facility upgrades across 10 regional airports—including Anisakhan Airport in Pyin Oo Lwin, Kawthaung, Myeik, Dawei, Pathein, Bagan-Nyaung-U, Kengtung, and Tachileik—to accommodate commercial jet traffic. Year-round riverbed dredging operations were also authorized along the Ayeyarwady and Chindwin rivers to facilitate low-cost cargo transport.

Agriculture & Education Funding: Plans to expand domestic cotton cultivation from 550,000 acres to 600,000 acres via low-interest agricultural loans. He also pledged to raise the national education budget allocation to 10% in the upcoming fiscal year, with a target of 15% by the 2028–2029 fiscal year.

Message to youth

In his closing remarks, Min Aung Hlaing addressed the nation's youth, urging them to focus on academic diligence, personal discipline, and civic responsibility. He noted existing weaknesses in national educational performance and called on students to dedicate greater focus to disciplined study while curbing excessive leisure activities, emphasizing that a highly skilled generation would be required to manage the nation's future infrastructure.

State media

State-run news outlets, including Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) and The Global New Light of Myanmar, lauded the address as a pragmatic roadmap for state recovery. Editorial boards highlighted the completion of the 100-day targets, the commitment to constitutional reform, and the extensive infrastructure plans as evidence of the administration's stability.

Opposition and activists

Spokespersons for the National Unity Government (NUG) and civilian protest groups, such as the General Strike Coordination Body, quickly rejected the president's claims. Critics characterized the five-year roadmap and planned 2027 by-elections as blatant attempts to formalize and legitimize military-backed governance. Opposition leaders argued that the ongoing youth exodus was directly caused by the regime's forced conscription policies and political suppression, rather than the general economic factors cited in the speech.

See also

• Second Min Aung Hlaing cabinet
• Pyidaungsu Hluttaw
• 2008 Constitution of Myanmar
• 2021 Myanmar coup d'état
• Myanmar civil war (2021–present)