By Zhang Yunfei, Specialist on Myanmar and chief reporter of Rangoon branch office, Xinhua News Agency

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a two-day official visit to Myanmar on April 5-6. He met his Myanmar counterpart, Aung San Suu Kyi. Wang was the first foreign official received by Suu Kyi after she had assumed office.

At a joint press conference, the two foreign ministers expressed mutual support to strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen mutual beneficial cooperation and open up a new chapter for bilateral relations.

The Chinese Foreign Minister's visit came shortly after the installation of Myanmar's new government on April 1. Suu Kyi invited Wang to visit Myanmar to demonstrate a "paukphaw friendship" -- "brotherly friendship" in Burmese -- between the two countries.

China and Myanmar are linked by rivers and mountains, sharing a common border of more than 2200 kilometers. It meets the fundamental interests of the Chinese and Myanmar peoples to maintain regional peace and stable development. China and Myanmar are good neighbors.
 
Bilateral trade and China's investment in Myanmar nearly accounts for one third of Myanmar's foreign trade and investment, which provides a strong foundation for further cooperation. China and Myanmar are good partners. A prosperous and stable Myanmar meshes well with China's interests.

To support Myanmar's opening up to the world, Beijing welcomes its riding on the coattails of China's robust economic growth, and its greater participation in regional cooperative mechanisms, such as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative.

China and Myanmar will remain good friends. Wang had spoken about the China-Myanmar "paukphaw friendship" that goes beyond differences in social institutions. Hence, changes in Myanmar's inner affairs will not alter China's Myanmar policy.

Wang believes the two sides could strengthen high-level engagements to map out the next step for the two countries' comprehensive cooperation.

The ruling parties of both nations could strengthen their inter-party communications, exchange experiences on managing state affairs, deepen reciprocal cooperation in various areas and handle problems emerging from collaboration.

On the basis of respecting Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Beijing stood ready to play a conducive role in Myanmar's national reconciliation in accordance with its needs.

Noting that Myanmar and China are neighbors with interests closely connected, Suu Kyi said she felt a profound friendship between the two peoples when she visited China in 2015.

Suu Kyi said the new Myanmar government does aspire to promote national reconciliation and achieve stability and development. The substantial assistance from Beijing means a great deal to Rangoon.

Wang's visit to Myanmar was timely in an effort to deepen good-neighborly cooperation that would enhance the development of bilateral relations.

( The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

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