On Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a state visit to Myanmar to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of China-Myanmar Diplomatic Relations and the China-Myanmar Year of Culture and Tourism. Xi called the event a “historic moment” and an “important landmark,” adding that 2021 “marks the beginning of a new era for China-Myanmar relations”. He also met with top diplomats of the country, including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
In his address, speaking of the “shared bond” between the two countries, Xi said that China and Myanmar “are geographically linked, our peoples are connected by kinship and our cultures enjoy a natural affinity”. State Counsellor Suu Kyi noted that the event “is an auspicious time for Myanmar and Chinese leaders to jointly attend the launch ceremony of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of Myanmar-China diplomatic Relations and Myanmar-China Year of Culture and Tourism.” Further, she added, “No matter how Myanmar’s domestic situation changes, all successive governments of Myanmar attach great importance to developing friendly relations with China.”
Xi then met with Myanmar’s President, Myint, and used the meeting to reassure him of China’s firm support to the Myanmar government “in pursuing a development path suited to its own national conditions”. He said that the China-Myanmar comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, which was established in 2011 to create a ‘stable’ and ‘harmonious’ surrounding environment for enhancing cooperation between the two countries, and is projected to “inject new impetus and vitality into the development of bilateral relations”.
Xi also added that Beijing is ready to work in collaboration with Myanmar “in speeding up the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Myanmar’s development strategies”. This agenda was further reflected in his meeting with Suu Kyi, wherein he stressed on the importance of accelerating the construction of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC)”, an ambitious BRI initiative that aims to connect the two countries and expand bilateral trade and investment. In furtherance of this, he also spoke of deepening “people-to-people and cultural exchanges.” Yangon’s dependency on Beijing has allowed China to use BRI projects to leverage its control over Myanmar by investing in large scale infrastructure projects, including bridges and highways, which has in turn trapped Myanmar in excessive debt.
Following the meetings, the briefing released by the foreign ministry of China reported that the leaders “attended an exchange ceremony of multiple bilateral cooperation documents, covering politics, economy, trade, investment, people-to-people and cultural engagement, and locality”. Furthermore, both Suu Kyi and Myint reiterated Myanmar’s commitment to enhancing its friendship with China and building a “Myanmar-China community with a shared future together.”
Additionally, Xi also met with Myanmar’s Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Min Aung Hlaing, wherein he stated that China adheres to non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Against the backdrop of rising illegal cross-border immigration and progress of development projects in Myanmar as part of the BRI, Xi expressed hope that Myanmar and China will continue to safeguard sovereignty, security and development interests. Hlaing said that the meeting had “yielded fruitful results and fully demonstrated the height and depth of bilateral relations”.
This visit comes only a few days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Myanmar as part of his four-day trip to Southeast Asia, wherein he also visited Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines. Following the visit, Yi said in a media interview that China was “willing to deepen communication and strengthen coordination with its neighbours, and will support the running of Myanmar’s new government”.
These developments come amidst China’s efforts to build a wall along its 2000-kilometre-long southern border that it shares with Myanmar, purportedly with the aim of curbing illegal crossings. While Myanmar has opposed the construction of this barbed wire wall, China is resolute in its decision and has already finished building 659 kilometres of the structure. According to Beijing, the fence is being built to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Current meetings between the two sides are only reflective of Beijing’s continued projection of power over the country.
Xi Jinping Visits Myanmar on the 70th Anniversary of China-Myanmar Diplomatic Relations
On his state visit to Myanmar, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with top diplomats including his counterpart, President U Win Myint, and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
January 18, 2021
SOURCE: FOREIGN MINISTRY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA