Jiang's Visit to Myanmar to Add New Chapter to Sino-Myanmar Ties

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 10, 2001

Jiang's Visit to Myanmar to Add New Chapter to Sino-Myanmar Ties

President of the People's Republic of China Jiang Zemin will pay a four-day state visit to the Union of Myanmar from December 12 to 15 at the invitation of Myanmar Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Senior-General Than Shwe. Basing on the solid economic, trade, cultural ties between the two country, the first trip to Myanmar by a Chinese president in the 21st century will provide a new juncture for the enhancement of understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Long History of Sino-Myanmar Friendship

Long Border

China and Myanmar, the two close neighbors having a common border of more than 2,000 kilometers, have had a long-standing Paukphaw (fraternal) friendship between their peoples.

Cooperation in Various Fields

The two countries established diplomatic relations on June 8, 1950. Despite the significant changes in the international situation in more than half a century since then, there has been a continuous development of cooperation between the two neighbors in political, economic, cultural, educational and other fields on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence jointly advocated by the two sides.

Common View Shared

They share an extensive common view on many major issues such as safeguarding of national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as opposing to hegemonism and power politics.

In the international affairs, the two countries have supported each other and closely cooperated. The mutual trust and support in politics has become an important cornerstone in their friendly and cooperative ties.

China has always respected Myanmar's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Myanmar has stuck to the "One-China" policy, supporting China's great cause of reunification, recognizing the government of the People's Republic of China as China's sole legitimate government and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and maintaining that it will not develop official ties with Taiwan in any form.

Frequent Exchange of Visits

The frequent exchange of visits between leaders of China and Myanmar is another important fact attesting the good and friendly cooperative ties between the two countries.

Visits to Myanmar Paid by Chinese Leaders

China's late Premier Zhou Enlai had made nine visits to Myanmar, while former Myanmar leader U Ne Win went to China for 12 occasions.

In recent years, there were visits to Myanmar by Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee Li Ruihuan, Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao, Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo, State Councilors Luo Gan, Chi Haotian and Ismail Amat, Vice-Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Zhang Wannian and Chief of General Staff Headquarters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Fu Quanyou.

Visits to China by Myanmar heads

There were also visits to China during these years made by Chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and Prime Minister Senior-General Than Shwe, SPDC Vice-Chairman General Maung Aye, SPDC First Secretary Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt and Foreign Minister U Win Aung.

The exchange of visits at high levels has pushed forward the development of the two countries' friendly and cooperative ties.

Economic & Technical Cooperation

At the same time as the political and diplomatic ties are continuously strengthened, the Sino-Myanmar bilateral economic and technical cooperation has also yielded rich fruits.

Projects Built for Myanmar

The two countries have signed a number of economic and technical cooperation agreements, under which China has built for Myanmar dozens of projects for sugar, paper, textile, plywood, thermal power, rice processing industries, a national theater, a national stadium, and a highway-railway bridge. More projects are under implementation.

Seller's Credit Provided to Myanmar

In addition, China also provided Myanmar with considerable seller's credit, with which Myanmar imported from China transport facilities including vessels, railway locomotives and bridge, and machinery equipment to be used in power generation and production of sugar, cement and textile goods.

Chinese Companies in Myanmar

Meanwhile, China and Myanmar also launched various forms of economic cooperation, based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit and mutual supplement of superiorities.

Chinese companies have initiated a number of projects in Myanmar in the form of sole proprietorship or joint venture. Up to now, Chinese companies have established more than 10 investment projects in Myanmar.

To enhance the two countries' economic cooperation, Myanmar formed the Committee for Promotion of Myanmar-China Economic Cooperation in January 1996.

China's Contribution to Foreign Trade of Myanmar

China-Myanmar bilateral trade occupies an important position in Myanmar's foreign trade. In recent years, it amounted to more than 600 million U.S. dollars annually, accounting for 15 percent of Myanmar's total foreign trade. China has become Myanmar's third largest trading partner after Singapore and Thailand.

Sino-Myanmar Cultural Exchange

The cultural exchange between China and Myanmar also adds a magnificent color to the development of the Sino-Myanmar ties. Since 1990, the two countries' cultural exchange programs numbered over 20 annually, involving arts, literature, painting, movies, education, news, sports, religions and other sectors.

Jiang's Visit to Add New Chapter

The continuous consolidation and development of friendly cooperative ties between China and Myanmar not only serves the basic interests of the two countries and the two peoples, but is also beneficial to peace, stability and development in the region.

The visit of President Jiang Zemin to Myanmar is bound to inject new vigor into the development of the Sino-Myanmar relations in the 21st century, and add a new chapter to the two countries' traditional, good-neighborly and friendly ties.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue, Jiang's visit is aimed at enhancing understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The two state leaders will exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

The two will also sign relevant documents of bilateral cooperation, according to the spokeswoman. The upcoming visit will consolidate and push forward the traditional good neighborly relations and friendship between China and Myanmar in the new century.

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