China, Myanmar pledge to boost cooperation

SANYA - Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Myanmar counterpart U Thein Sein held talks on Friday in China's southern city of Sanya and pledged to boost the "all-round" cooperation between the two countries.

"The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views and reached broad consensus on relations between the two countries as well as regional and international issues of common interest," said a joint press communique after their talks.

China and Myanmar should enhance strategic mutual trust, and conduct win-win cooperation for common development, which will lay a solid foundation for advancing the fundamental interests of the two peoples and for achieving lasting stability and prosperity of the region, said the communique.

During the talks, U Thein Sein invited Xi to visit Myanmar and the Chinese president expressed his willingness to visit to Myanmar "at a mutually convenient time."

"The two sides will maintain the tradition of high-level visits," said the communique, adding that the frequent contacts between the leaders of the two countries will help to enhance strategic communication and take China-Myanmar relations forward in the right direction.

The two countries will enhance their friendly exchanges and cooperation in all areas, including parliaments, governments, political parties, militaries and law-enforcement departments and on governance matters, said the document.

"This will further enrich the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Myanmar," it said. The two countries established the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2011.

In the communique, China reiterated its respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and its support for the government of Myanmar in its efforts to maintain national unity and ethnic harmony.

"The two sides will continue to strengthen border management cooperation, and safeguard peace and stability in border areas," said the document.

China supports Myanmar in independently pursuing its domestic reform and choosing the development path in line with its national conditions under the premise of maintaining stability, said the communique.

During the talks, Myanmar reiterated its firm commitment to the one China policy and pledged to continue to support the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.

"The two sides will promote sustainable development of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win results, properly address problems that may occur, and move forward the implementation of major cooperation projects, to benefit the two peoples and common development of the two countries," said the document.

During the talks, the two sides also vowed to strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks, including 10+1, 10+3, the East Asia Summit (EAS), Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and the United Nations, to safeguard common interests of developing countries, and promote peace, stability and development of the region.

According to the communique, China will also support Myanmar in hosting the 27th Southeast Asian Games.

At the invitation of Xi, U Thein Sein is paying a state visit to China from Friday to Sunday. The Myanmar president will also attend the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia on Sunday.