With the urban centers and tourism industry of Burma/Myanmar rapidly expanding, the inevitable conflict between the material impacts of“modernization”and the imperatives of preserving that unique cultural patrimony, which so largely drives international tourism, will be ever more emergent. This applies not only to officially designated or gazette cultural assets, but equally so to heretofore-unprotected sites and institutions resonant with historical significance and rich in aesthetic value.

My presentation focuses on the importance of understanding the role that such cultural assets and resources as they play an active role for the success of reintegrate Myanmar in the international community, as a soft power and discuss the increasing collaboration among international institutions, especially museums and organizations such as UNESCO.

My presentation will use the term soft power and cultural diplomacy.Soft power refers to a third dimension of power held by states or international institutions, outside of the“hard power”of military and economic realms. It is the ability for the State to achieve its aims through“attraction," rather than coercion. Cultural diplomacy, on the other hand,  as defined by Milton Cummings (2003), cultural diplomacy" is the exchange of ideas, information, values, systems, traditions, beliefs, and other aspects of culture, with the intention of fostering mutual understanding ".

For Myanmar 2014 is proved to be a crucial year. As a political tool, how we can the culture protection serves the country economy. Noticeably two major events stand out since the beginning of the 2014. First of all, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York had an exhibition called Last Kingdoms. It exhibit what the first major artifact from the major museum in Myanmar, include the National Museum. The Metropolitan Museum succeed in bringing together curators as well as artifact for conservation and display. All these artifacts come from the ancient Pyu. Another exhibition is about Buddhism Myanmar art just a few blocks away in New York. Those two exhibitions represent the first time the ancient artifact from major museum in Myanmar are as well as will be on show outside the country. This is what the U.S. called soft power. The second important event which were just a few weeks ago were on June 30th, 2014 of three Pyu cities. Those three Pyu sites mark Myanmar’s first entry into the heritage list. A lot of this can be said, I’ll not present the controversy world heritage list. But it’s a good thing. Those ancient Pyu sites include the remains that you see here. What is also interesting about them is that together the three sites, if you look at the map on your left-hand side, are a part of different divisions. At least they show momentum for the country in more ways than one. Both the exhibition and the inclusion of the three sites into the world heritage list are two prime example of how culture help Myanmar reintegrate into the international community with the positive image and paving the way for further tourism and cultural efforts.

Second, cultural diplomacy. To continue ideas on this culture and art as a cultural diplomacy, I want to discuss art as both the diplomatic and economic tool. As a diplomatic tool and better to understand Myanmar culture and project image outside Myanmar.

Secondly, change from international collection to Myanmar museum and cross-museum training have been taking place, such as the British Museum, noticeably organized in 2014 and also exhibition of traveling photographs of Myanmar. Such exchanges between museums force diplomatic ties, see goodwill for such collaboration as well as intercultural learning between the countries.

As a curator myself, I and my colleagues have been in the Europe and U.S., with the emphasis on training for future curators in Myanmar and doing crosscountry exchanges. There is a great opportunity using art to play important role in fostering relationship based on the conservation of cultural property both movable and immovable. The art present plays a significant role that both promote the country learning both abroad and in Myanmar, also for the training of technology and methods which is lacking in the training of curator in Myanmar. The opportunity for people to people exchange is in their infancy stage. Other future economic tool aside from museum and can see some of the view of the religious tour sites and natural sites. An important part of economic development for Myanmar as you can see here, as shown in the Myanmar Tourism Master Plan, encouraging tourism and boosting all sector of art and craft, the private and public sector. Myanmar’s beautiful cultural heritage is very appreciated abroad, in world public. However, all of these also depend on the stability of the country. Overall, as I showed, art and culture are unique strengths for Myanmar. However, that comes with significant risk and challenges. Another issue is burglar and art-trafficking. The protecting area should be in place in the ASEAN country in case the artifact transferred to neighboring countries or even European countries. It’s time for Myanmar to extend its protection and preservation method, as well as cooperation with the ASEAN nations, and international community.