Xi Jinping arrives in Myanmar

NAY PYI TAW: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday for a state visit to Myanmar. During his two-day stay, Xi is scheduled to attend a series of state events held by Myanmar President U Win Myint, hold talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, meet with Commanderin- Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing, and exchange views with the leaders of Myanmar’s parliament and political parties. Xi will also join Myanmar leaders in a series of celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the launching ceremony of the China-Myanmar Culture and Tourism Year program. It is Xi’s first overseas trip this year, and the first visit to the Asian neighbor by a Chinese president after an interval of 19 years. Earlier Xi’s state visit, Myanmar’s Minister of Commerce Than Myint told media that the visit is expected to lead to sustainable development in two-way trade and further strengthen bilateral cooperation. “Our friendship will be renewed, mutual understanding will be consolidated, and China-Myanmar cooperation will be further promoted, so we are proud of it and warmly welcome the visit,” he said, commenting on Xi’s Myanmar trip on Jan. 17-18. Noting that China is Myanmar’s largest trading partner and an important source of foreign investment, the minister said it is expected to see continuous growth in bilateral trade, with both countries importing more from each other. Talking about the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), he said projects within these frameworks will boost trade and there will be growing investment from China in Myanmar in a broad-ranging sectors, including transportation and electricity, of which Myanmar is in need. “China is becoming a leading country in the world and contributes a lot to global economic growth. We, as a neighboring country, can also share China’s development through stepped-up cooperation,” he said. Through bilateral cooperation, China can offer technical assistance to Myanmar and such cooperation will be beneficial to China as well, the minister added. There are many inspiring things happening in China, such as the way how they achieve economic growth, how they develop technologies and how they promote people-topeople exchanges between entrepreneurs, professionals and others, he said. “And we need to learn those things from China,” he added.