China, Myanmar vow closer ties as Suu Kyi visits Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday that China wants to ensure relations develop in the “correct direction” during a landmark visit by Ms Suu Kyi that was overshadowed by a stalled dam project.

He also extended Myanmar’s choice of development path and its efforts to safeguard national stability, promote economic growth, and maintain social harmony. Overwhelming local opposition to the Myitsone dam project led Myanmar’s previous president, Thein Sein, to suspend it.

Suu Kyi leads Myanmar’s government with the title of state counselor after her party won elections past year.

Xi called for more attention to cooperation in the areas that benefit people’s livelihoods more directly, such as agriculture, water conservation, education and healthcare, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday. This project is jointly funded by China and Myanmar, but was suspended by the Burmese government in 2011.

Speaking to reporters earlier Friday, Suu Kyi said she had nothing new to announce concerning the dam, which is to be reviewed by a recently formed commission on hydroelectric projects along the Irrawaddy River.

At the same time, Myanmar needs to get Beijing onside as it pursues historic peace talks with armed groups who cross over the border into China to find sanctuary and to trade in illicit items. Xi Jinping also said he believed that Suu Kyi’s visit will further comprehensive strategic partnership.

“China, as a neighbour which shares a very important border along which there are many ethnic armed groups, is important in its goodwill”, she said.

But he indicated that there had been no breakthroughs, merely an assurance from Suu Kyi that she would “set up an investigation committee to appropriately solve” the dam issue.

Experts say that the Myitsone dam project will truly test Suu Kyi’s diplomatic skills. State-run China Daily said in an editorial praised Aung Suu Kyi as a “political realist” who realises the importance of “reassuring” China. Xi expressed gratitude for the invitation, according to a joint press release. Suu Kyi was welcomed by Premier Li Keqiang at a formal ceremony Thursday at part of a visit that will include talks with President Xi. She met Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday. “Myanmar welcomed China’s “Belt and Road” initiative and the initiative of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor”, said the joint statement. “If you ask me what my most important aim is for my country, that is to achieve peace and unity among the different peoples of our union”.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), said the NPC attaches great importance to relations with Myanmar’s parliament, and is willing to have closer communication and share its experience, as well as strengthen coordination and cooperation under regional and global parliamentary mechanisms.