Chinese, Myanmar Leaders Hail 50 Years of Bilateral TiesPresident Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji Wednesday exchanged congratulations with Myanmar leader Senior General Than Shwe on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.In his message to Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar, Jiang said China and Myanmar are neighboring countries with long-standing and deep "paukphaw" (brotherly) friendship. Jiang said the two countries maintain frequent exchanges of high-level visits in recent years and have continuously expanded bilateral cooperation in various fields. These moves, Jiang added, not only are in the basic interests of the two countries and the two peoples, but also benefit regional peace and stability. "The Chinese government and people cherish very much the traditional China-Myanmar friendship and will as always make great efforts to further promote the good-neighborly and friendly cooperation between the two countries," Jiang said. Than Shwe said in his message that he appreciated the traditional "paukphaw" friendship between Myanmar and China, adding that the bilateral friendly cooperation has been developing day by day over the past 50 years on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence. Than Shwe hoped that the two countries will make joint efforts "in the spirit of mutual understanding, mutual trust and active cooperation to deal with challenges in all bilateral and multilateral fields." Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, in his message to Than Shwe, who doubles as prime minister of the Myanmar government, noted that in recent years, the Chinese and Myanmar peoples have benefited from the growing bilateral trade and economic and exchanges and cooperation. China will enhance cooperation with Myanmar in various fields and develop their good-neighborly friendship in a comprehensive and deep-going way. Than Shwe said in his message to Zhu that his government is willing to develop friendship with China through contacts and visits by state leaders and people of the two countries. He added that the Myanmar government, on the basis of the principle of equality and mutual benefits, is willing to enhance trade, investment and cooperation in the social and cultural fields with China. On the same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and his Myanmar counterpart ,Win Ang, also exchanged greetings on the occasion. |
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