Chinese, Myanmar Leaders Hold TalksVice-President Hu Jintao who is paying an official visit to Myanmar Sunday held talks with Vice-Chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) General Maung Aye.The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional and international issues which both sides are concerned, obtaining an extensive consensus. Vice-President Hu said China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors and the two peoples have had exchanges of visits since ancient times and lived on good terms, calling each other "paukphaw" ( fraternal). For half a century, despite major changes in international and each other's domestic situation, the Sino-Myanmar neighborly and friendly relations have been maintained and developed steadily, he noted, adding that the friendship between the two peoples has been consolidated day after day. He pointed out that this was due primarily to the fact that governments and leaders of the two countries have highly valued the developing Sino-Myanmar ties. Secondly, he went on to say, Sino-Myanmar friendship has won firm support from peoples of the two countries, stressing that this friendship not only conforms to the desire of the two peoples but also to the basic interests of the two countries and nations. Thirdly, he continued to say, China and Myanmar have always mutually extended sympathy and support in striving for independence and liberation, safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as in the process of each other's national construction. In conclusion, he added, "Sino-Myanmar ties have firm foundation. We have full confidence over the sustainable and steady development of the two countries' relations in the new century." During the talks, Vice-Chairman Maung Aye expressed welcome to Vice-President Hu Jintao and his entourage for their visit to Myanmar, recalling that Myanmar-China ties were established through joint efforts by leaders of the elder generations in accordance with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and because of this there are broad prospects for further development. He noted that at present leaders of the new generation of the two countries are responsible to further push ahead the bilateral friendly cooperation, pointing out that there have been good developments of bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, science and technology and culture. "This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and China and Vice-President Hu Jintao's visit to Myanmar on such occasion will further deepen the paukphaw friendship between the two countries and will also bring about firmer foundation of cooperation," he said. He expressed Myanmar's belief that China is Myanmar's closest and friendliest neighbor. During the talks, both sides hoped to fully display each other' s advantages and make major advances in economic cooperation in various forms to bring about wealth to the two peoples. Both sides also unanimously expressed wishes to strengthen the cooperation in international and regional affairs for pushing forward peace and development in Asia as well as in the world. After the talks, the two sides signed three agreements on bilateral cooperation in the economic, scientific-technological and tourism spheres. In the evening, Vice-Chairman Maung Aye and his wife gave a grand reception at the Pyithuluttaw (parliament) Hall in honor of Vice-President Hu Jintao and his wife. |
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