Chinese premier expects upcoming Myanmar visit to cement ties

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Saturday that he expects his upcoming visit to Myanmar can further strengthen the political mutual trust and push forward cooperation on major connectivity projects.

Li made the remarks while meeting with Myanmar's President U Thein Sein who is in Beijing to attend a dialogue on strengthening connectivity partnership.

The Chinese premier will attend a series of leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation from Nov12 to 14 in Myanmar, and pay an official visit to the country at the invitation of U Thein Sein.

Li said that he expects his visit can build up political consensus of the development of China-Myanmar good neighborly and friendly relations, advance the construction of the economic corridor linking Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar, and push forward the cooperation of related major connectivity projects.

He also expressed hopes that his visit can cement the people-to-people and non-governmental exchanges between the two countries, so as to elevate the China-Myanmar comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to a new height and benefit the two peoples.

Li said that China has always supported the integration process of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and stands ready to be good neighbors, good friends and good partners with its members forever.

China is willing to actively push forward the negotiation and signing of the China-ASEAN treaty on good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation, and speed up the building of the upgraded version of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area as well as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Li said.

Regarding the coming leaders' meetings in Myanmar, which is the rotating chair of the 10-member ASEAN this year, Li said that he expects all sides to focus on cooperation and highlight consensus so as to promote the regional development and prosperity and advance the East Asian cooperation.

U Thein Sein, on his part, said that China's remarkable development achievements have driven the development of its neighboring countries, including Myanmar.

The Myanmar government and people expect Li's visit to lift the Myanmar-China and ASEAN-China relations to a new height, he said.

The president noted that the building of the "One Belt and One Road," or the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, will benefit the ASEAN members.

Myanmar stands ready to push forward the Myanmar-China cooperation projects, including the oil and gas pipeline, along with the Chinese side, and well protect the rights and interests of the overseas investors in Myanmar, including the Chinese, he added.