NAY PYI TAW, Dec. 11 -- Leaders of China and Myanmar Tuesday vowed to strengthen comprehensive strategic cooperation and carry out close cultural exchange.

It was discussed in depth in their talks when visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong met Myanmar Vice President U Nyan Tun in Nay Pyi Taw shortly after she arrived in the Myanmar capital earlier on the day.

U Nyan Tun welcomed Liu to attend the opening ceremony of the 27th Southeast Asian Games being hosted by Myanmar, and thanked China for providing technical assistance for the sports event.

Liu said she is delighted to witness the successful launching of cultural and sports cooperation between the two countries, adding she is looking forward to a successful conclusion of the sports event.

Noting that China and Myanmar are traditionally friendly neighbors with deep "paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship, Liu said facts have proved that the long-term steady development of China- Myanmar ties conforms to the fundamental interest of the two countries which deserve to be valued by both sides.

She stressed the Chinese side would earnestly implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, reconcile each other's development strategies and join hands with Myanmar in pushing ahead with the mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas.

Liu went on to say that China-Myanmar relations are rooted in people, adding the two peoples' understanding and support are indispensable to the long-term steady development of China-Myanmar ties.

She expressed China's wishes to make joint efforts to continue exchange and cooperation in various forms in the sectors of education, health, culture, sports, information, film and television and religious affairs, in order to bring the cultural exchange a step forward and consolidate the foundation of public support for the long-tern development of the two countries' relations.

For his part, U Nyan Tun said development of friendly and neighborly ties with China is also one of the most important parts of Myanmar's foreign policy.

Both sides mutually understand and support each other's domestic reform process, which has laid an important foundation for the two countries to develop friendly cooperation in the new era, he said.

Myanmar is committed to promoting Myanmar-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and endorses China's ideas and proposals on boosting cooperation, he added.

Following the meeting, the two leaders jointly witnessed the signing of an agreement on bilateral economic and technology cooperation and exchange of notes on a couple of projects.

Liu arrived in Nay Pyi Taw Tuesday afternoon for a two-day visit to Myanmar at the invitation of U Nyan Tun.