Chinese Top Political Advisor Meets Myanmar Official on Bilateral Ties

Jia Qinglin (L, front), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with U Ye Myint (R, front), chief minister of Mandalay region in Mandalay, Myanmar, April 2, 2011. Jia arrived in Myanmar Saturday for a four-day visit. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

MANDALAY, Myanmar, April 2 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin on Saturday met with the head of central Myanmar's Mandalay region and agreed to boost regional cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

In a meeting with U Ye Myint, chief minister of Mandalay region, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said both countries and peoples have established a brotherly friendship.

Noting that the friendship has been further deepened with joint efforts, Jia said mutual political trust is being steadily deepened and bilateral cooperation in various fields continues to achieve new progress.

Mandalay has maintained frequent exchanges with China.

Regional exchange and cooperation constitutes an important part of bilateral relations and China is ready to foster cooperation in various fields including economy, trade and tourism between Mandalay and Chinese provinces, Jia said.

China will also encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Mandalay, which will help further bilateral friendship between the two countries, he added.

For his part, U Ye Myint welcomed Jia's arrival, saying that he is honored to know that Mandalay is the first stop of Jia's four-day visit to the country.

The chief minister of Mandalay said he is determined to boost Mandalay's cooperation with China during his tenure.

Jia arrived here early Saturday for a friendly visit to the country. He is scheduled to hold meetings with Myanmar's newly elected leaders.

Jia is also expected to announce new aid measures to the quake-stricken northeast. The two countries will sign a package of cooperation pacts.

Trade between China and Myanmar has been on a sharp rise in recent years. In 2010, bilateral trade totaled 4.444 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 53.2 percent over the year before.

Li Junhua, China's ambassador to Myanmar, told Xinhua before the visit that Jia's visit is of great importance to the China- Myanmar neighborly and friendly relations and economic and trade cooperation, and will serve as a new opportunity for both sides to further the already friendly bilateral ties.

Myanmar is the first stop of Jia's three nation tour, which will also take him to Australia and Samoa.

Source: Xinhua