The leader of Myanmar’s new military-backed government yesterday began a five-day visit to China, his first to the country since being appointed president in April.
During the trip, Min Aung Hlaing is set to hold talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Zhao Leji, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, the two nations said in separate announcements.
Arriving in Beijing yesterday, the 69-year-old was received with the full red-carpet treatment. According to a report in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, “a Chinese child and a Myanmar child presented bouquets to welcome the delegation led by the President.” He was then driven to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, and received “warm and enthusiastic welcomes” en route.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular news conference on Friday that China hopes to use this visit to renew its friendship with Myanmar and deepen “comprehensive strategic cooperation,” the AFP news agency reported.
The Myanmar state media was slightly more forthcoming, stating that Min Aung Hlaing “will engage in cordial and open exchanges of views on matters aimed at further strengthening the existing Pauk-Phaw relations between Myanmar and China, as well as enhancing cooperation between the two governments and peoples in various sectors, including economic and security affairs.” (“Pauk-Phaw” is a special term that the two nations have used to describe their “fraternal” ties since the early 1950s.)
