President Jiang Arrives in Myanmar for State Visit

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 12, 2001

President Jiang Arrives in Myanmar for State Visit

Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrived in Yangon at noon local time Wednesday, starting a four-day state visit to Myanmar at the invitation of Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar.

This is a return visit to Than Shwe's China tour in 1996. Than Shwe greeted Jiang and presided over a welcoming ceremony for Jiang at the airport.

Jiang's entourage includes Jiang's wife Wang Yeping, Vice-Premier Qian Qichen and his wife Zhou Hanqiong, and other senior Chinese officials who arrived aboard the same plane.

Jiang delivered a written statement on arrival at the Yangon International Airport.

He said he is very glad to have the opportunity of coming to the Union of Myanmar for a state visit at the invitation of Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of the SPDC, and he would like to take this opportunity to convey the cordial greetings and good wishes of the Chinese people to the people of Myanmar.

Jiang pointed out that China and Myanmar are "good neighbors with a profound 'pawkphaw' (fraternal) friendship fostered in the long-term and close contacts between the two peoples".

In the past years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries initiated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence for state-to-state relations and the friendly bilateral relations were constantly consolidated and developed, noted Jiang.

He stressed that "this is in the interest of the two peoples as well as peace and stability in the region."

He said he hopes to enhance mutual understanding, deepen friendship and expand cooperation through exchange of views on bilateral relations and other issues of common interest with leaders of Myanmar during the visit.

He said he also hopes to learn more about the economic and social development of the country, adding that he is confident that with the host's thoughtful arrangements, his current visit will achieve positive results.

He wished the Union of Myanmar enjoy prosperity and its people well-being.

Jiang is scheduled to hold talks with Than Shwe later Wednesday.

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