Beijing: Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing today during his five-day official visit to China, hoping to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and strategic relations between the two countries.
According to Thai News Agency, President Xi Jinping officially welcomed Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. A military honor guard review followed the full-scale discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and strengthening strategic ties between the two countries. President Min Aung Hlaing is on a five-day official visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking his first bilateral visit to China since assuming the presidency in April.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements, led by high-level delegations including chief ministers from Kachin and Shan states, strategically located along the Chinese border. Bilateral discussions included the revival and promotion of mega-projects under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor agreement, such as transboundary oil and natural gas pipelines and plans for deep-sea ports, as well as efforts to revive a $3.6 billion dam project in Kachin State that had been suspended since 2011. Myanmar serves as a major supplier of rare earth metals to China, crucial raw materials in the clean energy technology industry chain.
Both countries are also cooperating in cracking down on call center gangs, with the new Myanmar government proposing the death penalty for those involved in this business. Meanwhile, China is ready to act as a mediator in negotiating a ceasefire between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups with close ties to China, to prevent political conflict along the more than 2,100-kilometer border that could affect trade between the two countries.
Analysts believe the state welcome from China helped legitimize the government of Min Aung Hlaing, which has been isolated and sanctioned by Western nations since the 2021 coup. Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry reiterated its support for Myanmar in maintaining its sovereignty and fostering unity among domestic political factions to restore lasting stability.