Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Myanmar State Counsellor, President

08 December 2019
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Myanmar State Counsellor, President
Photo: Aung Shine Oo/Pool

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has made a state visit to Myanmar to discuss China-Myanmar relations and progress with China’s Belt and Road Initiative and China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.

Wang Yi met with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and several other Myanmar government officials on December 7, according to press releases from the Chinese government.

During discussions with the Myanmar State Counsellor, Wang Yi said next year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar. The two sides should have a series of celebration activities, plan and prepare high-level exchanges, and promote cooperation in economy, trade, people-to-people areas. The two sides should carry forward "Pauk-Phaw" friendship, deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation and work hand in hand to build a community with a shared future.

Wang Yi said that China is willing to work with Myanmar to promote the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor from conceptual planning to the stage of substantive construction, and to turn it into a landmark project between China and Myanmar for the joint construction of "Belt and Road Initiative". Infrastructure connectivity is the backbone of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, and the two sides should carry out relevant cooperation in a down-to-earth manner. The two sides should also speed up the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone and the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone, and so on.

Wang Yi said China has always advocated the democratization of international relations, insisted that all countries should treat each other on an equal footing, opposed interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and did not support the multilateralisation of bilateral issues. China's development and revitalization is the growth of peace forces, which will bring development opportunities to all countries in the world, especially neighboring countries. In the future national development process of Myanmar, China will stand firmly with the Myanmar people.

According to the report, Aung San Suu Kyi thanked China for its strong support and help in safeguarding national sovereignty, opposing foreign interference, and promoting economic and social development. Aung San Suu Kyi said, the two sides should take the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to strengthen high-level exchanges, jointly build "Belt and Road Initiative", develop the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor, and achieve more results in various fields of practical cooperation.

As Suu Kyi said, Myanmar is fully capable of dealing with the problems it faced with. Myanmar is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China on international and regional issues, and jointly defend the purpose and principles of the UN Charter.

In a separate meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Myanmar President Win Myint to discuss China-Myanmar relations.

Win Myint said, the friendship between Myanmar and China has a long history. Myanmar thanked China for its strong support in safeguarding Myanmar's national sovereignty and dignity, and promoting economic and social development. It is hoped that the two sides will take the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year as an opportunity to consolidate and deepen political mutual trust, speed up the joint building of "Belt and Road Initiative," comprehensively promote the construction of economic corridor, expand cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, and health. We should strengthen coordination and cooperation on regional and international issues, and open up new prospects for Myanmar-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Myanmar hopes that China will continue to support the peace and reconciliation process under way in Myanmar.