This photo taken on March 30, 2023 shows people riding their motorcycle around Zay Cho Clock Tower in Mandalay, Myanmar. (PHOTO / AFP)
NAY PYI TAW – Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday that China has always supported Myanmar in maintaining stability and promoting development.
At a meeting with former Chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council Than Shwe, Qin said viewing the development of China-Myanmar relations from a strategic height, China has always been a good neighbor, good friend and good partner of Myanmar, and has always supported the Southeast Asian country in maintaining stability and promoting development.
China respects Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity, supports Myanmar in advancing its domestic peace process, and stands ready to continue providing assistance to Myanmar in safeguarding independence, maintaining political stability and realizing sustainable development, said the Chinese foreign minister.
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The Chinese side is willing to work with Myanmar to build a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, he added.
Qin said China is willing to strengthen communication with ministries and localities of Myanmar, and expand cooperation in agriculture, border trade and other fields, while strengthening support for Myanmar's economic development by focusing on the construction of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor
For his part, Than Shwe appreciated China's good-neighborly friendship with Myanmar and its strong support for Myanmar's socio-economic development. He expressed hope that the two neighbors could carry forward the "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship, strengthen friendly cooperation and push for more fruitful bilateral ties.
Deepen cooperation
During his visit to Myanmar, Qin also met with Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Than Swe on Tuesday.
At a meeting with Than Swe, Qin said viewing its good-neighborly relations with Myanmar from a strategic perspective, China is willing to work with Myanmar to implement the important achievements during the Chinese leader's visit to Myanmar.
China respects Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly supports Myanmar in maintaining independence and political stability and achieving sustainable development, said the Chinese foreign minister.
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China also supports Myanmar in exploring a development path with Myanmar characteristics that suits its national conditions and steadily advancing its political transition process, he said.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang shakes hands with Myanmar's Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Than Swe (left) during their meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on May 2, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Qin said China is willing to strengthen communication with ministries and localities of Myanmar, and expand cooperation in agriculture, border trade and other fields, while strengthening support for Myanmar's economic development by focusing on the construction of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
In addition, the Chinese side will implement its aid projects in Myanmar to support the Myanmar side in improving people's livelihood, and both sides should enhance people-to-people exchanges and deepen cultural heritage protection and religious exchanges, he said.
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China is also willing to work with Myanmar and Bangladesh to promote the construction of the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh economic corridor, he added.
For his part, Than Swe said Myanmar firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports China's Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, and strongly supports China on issues concerning its core interests.
Myanmar is looking forward to working with China to deepen cooperation in such areas as agriculture, transportation, energy and connectivity, actively push forward landmark projects of the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor and implement more livelihood projects to benefit the two peoples, he said.
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Myanmar is ready to work with China to safeguard security and stability in the border areas, and to promote the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh economic corridor with China and Bangladesh, he added.