Hanoi (VNA) – Chinese President Xi Jinping had a meeting in Beijing on August 19 with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who began a five-day official visit to China on August 17.
The President expressed his hope that Suu Kyi’s visit would speed up “strategic cooperation” between the two countries, while affirming that China treasures promoting its relations with Myanmar.
For her part, the Myanmar State Counsellor stated the two sides are working to promote relations and deepen their friendship and mutual understanding.
According to Xinhua, President Xi pledged that China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting Myanmar’s peace process, and make joint efforts with Myanmar to safeguard peace and stability along the border between the two nations.
At a news briefing earlier on the day, Suu Kyi told reporters that she hoped China will support Myanmar in holding the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference between the Government and ethnic armed groups. The conference, slated for August 31, is expected to pave the way for a process to restore Myanmar’s economy.
On August 18, Suu Kyi held talks with Premier Li Keqiang.
During the Myanmar leader’s five-day visit, the fate of the 3.6 billion USD Myitsone hydropower plant project, which Myanmar put on hold in 2011, was expected to be a main topic in her meetings with Chinese leaders.
China is currently Myanmar’s biggest investor with a total capital of 15.4 billion USD.-VNA