On the evening of 20 May, President Xi Jinping had a phone call with President U Win Myint of Myanmar.

President Xi highlighted that after COVID-19 began in China, the Myanmar government and people from various sectors have lent a helping hand. China has followed closely the situation in Myanmar, and donated batches of medical supplies and sent two expert teams to fight the disease with local health workers. This speaks volumes about the two countries’ pauk-phaw friendship of solidarity and mutual assistance and the spirit of a community with a shared future featuring China and Myanmar sharing weal and woe. China will, in light of Myanmar’s needs, continue to provide staunch support and assistance to the best of its ability. Xi expressed confidence that the people of Myanmar will prevail over the disease and expressed China’s readiness to work with Myanmar and the rest of the international community to support the WHO’s leading role, uphold international fairness and justice and basic norms governing international relation, and win this battle for global public health.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic ties, Xi recalled his successful visit to Myanmar last January, during which the two leaders agreed to build a China-Myanmar community with a shared future and usher in a new era for bilateral relations. Xi called on the two sides to work closely together to deliver the outcomes of the visit. He expressed hope that the two countries, while ensuring good prevention and control of COVID-19, steadily advance exchanges and cooperation in various areas and work for greater progress in the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor projects. He pointed out the need to make good use of the joint prevention and control mechanism for border areas, and continue to maintain peace and tranquility along the border, while containing COVID-19 and restarting economic activities.

President U Win Myint said that Myanmar is heartened to see that under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and people have successfully brought COVID-19 under control and returned work and life back to normal. He thanked China for the support and assistance provided to the WHO and to Myanmar and other countries in their fight against the disease. In the face of COVID-19, countries must step up cooperation, uphold international justice and protect each country’s right to development. The sound cooperation between Myanmar and China reflects their joint commitment to building a Myanmar-China community with a shared future. He reiterated Myanmar’s firm adherence to the one-China policy and expressed readiness to work with China to earnestly implement the outcomes of President Xi’s visit in January, deepen the pauk-phaw friendship and cooperation in all areas, and advance the sustained growth of the Myanmar-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.