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Xi Jinping Holds Talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar

2020-01-18 14:53

On the morning of January 18, 2020 local time, President Xi Jinping held official talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw.

Xi Jinping said, enjoying a profound "pauk-phaw" friendship, China and Myanmar face new development opportunities in bilateral relations as both countries have entered a new stage of national development at present. This time, we have decided to jointly build a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, ushering in a new era of bilateral relations. We need to make great efforts to implement the decision, systematically plan and deploy next-phase exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and strengthen political guidance for bilateral relations, so as to push China-Myanmar relations to a higher level.

First, the two countries should accelerate the alignment of development strategies and well construct the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). The two sides should advance the five-year plan for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, effectively dovetail development strategies, and well implement bilateral economic and trade as well as production capacity cooperation. The CMEC construction is of overriding importance to bilateral Belt and Road cooperation. The two sides have started the substantive construction of the CMEC, and should work to increase the sense of gain of both peoples, the Myanmar people especially, as soon as possible.

Second, the two countries should focus on flagship cooperation projects to strengthen connectivity. China and Myanmar have agreed to allow the Kyaukphyu projects to play a demonstrative and driving role in the CMEC, and accelerate the construction of the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone and the New Yangon City, so as to complete the overall layout of the economic corridor supported by the north, east and west ends. The two sides should advance connectivity projects including highways, railways and power grids in a coordinated way, in order to form a structural network for the corridor as soon as possible.

Third, China and Myanmar should expand trade and investment and intensify local cooperation. China has always adhered to the principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests in its practical cooperation with Myanmar. The Myanmar side is welcome to increase exports to China. The Chinese side supports Chinese enterprises in increasing investment in Myanmar and is willing to enhance bilateral financial cooperation. The two sides need to give full play to the geographical advantage of the north end of the CMEC bordering China's Yunnan Province and promote exchanges and cooperation between Chinese provinces including Yunnan Province and the Myanmar side, so as to contribute to the overall development of the two countries.

Fourth, China and Myanmar should deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cement people-to-people bonds. The two sides should make the celebration events for the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and the China-Myanmar Year of Culture and Tourism a success, and encourage more youths to carry out exchanges so as to pass on the "pauk-phaw" friendship from generation to generation. The two sides should endeavor to improve people's livelihood, security and infrastructure construction along the CMEC, to deliver benefits to more common people of Myanmar as early as possible.

Extending once again a warm welcome to President Xi Jinping's state visit to Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi said, the Myanmar side highly cherishes its friendship with China and hopes to continue to be a good friend of China. President Xi Jinping's visit this time, which has boasted milestone significance and yielded fruitful results, will greatly deepen the Myanmar-China "pauk-phaw" friendship and promote bilateral practical cooperation. The Myanmar side is ready to actively advance the construction of the CMEC, fully implement projects in Kyaukphyu and push forward cooperation in such areas as transportation, energy, production capacity, people-to-people and cultural engagement, border and at local levels. The Myanmar side is ready to join hands with the Chinese side to forge ahead, build the Myanmar-China community with a shared future together and better benefit the two peoples.

Aung San Suu Kyi noted, a prominent feature in Myanmar-China relations has been mutual respect, understanding and support. China has long been giving the Myanmar side precious understanding and support at both bilateral and international levels, and the Myanmar people will always remember that. China's support is not out of self-interest, but to safeguard fairness and justice, which is particularly precious to small countries like Myanmar. Currently, problems concerning world peace and development, as well as international fairness and justice are yet to be solved. Some countries have been wantonly interfering in the internal affairs of other countries in the name of human rights, ethnic or religious issues. However, Myanmar will never bow to such pressure and interference. It is hoped that the Chinese side will continue to defend justice for small-and medium-sized countries including Myanmar on international occasions and play a constructive part in promoting the peace process in Myanmar.

Xi Jinping stressed, a Chinese proverb has it that "Just as distance tests a horse's strength, time will reveal a person's sincerity". China is a good friend worthy of the Myanmar side's trust. As China and Myanmar have jointly championed and practiced the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the two sides have not only trusted and helped each other and set a model for exchanges between countries, but also made historic contributions to the promotion of establishing a new type of international relations. The Chinese side has always adhered to respecting the people of all countries' independent choice of a development path suited to their national conditions, and insisted on non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The Chinese side will continue to speak out for justice for the Myanmar side in the international arena, and support the Myanmar side in safeguarding its national dignity and legitimate rights and interests. The Chinese side supports the Myanmar side in advancing the domestic peace process and achieving national reconciliation, and is willing to continue to play a constructive role in this regard.

After the talks, the leaders of the two countries attended an exchange ceremony of multiple bilateral cooperation documents, covering politics, economy, trade, investment, people-to-people and cultural engagement, and locality.

On the same day, China and Myanmar issued the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others were present at aforementioned events.

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