Friday, September 21, 2012

Thein Sein opens China-Asean trade exhibition

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Friday, 21 September 2012 13:19 Mizzima News

Burma’s President Thein Sein will return from a goodwill visit to China on Friday, after attending the 9th China-Asean Expo in Nanning, the capital of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. He will speak to the UN General-Assembly in New York City on Thursday.

President Thein Sein called for fostering bilateral ties as he met the general secretary of the Yunnan Province Communist Party and party members during a stopover in Kunming on September 18, 2012, to attend the 9th Asean-China Expo. Photo: President's office

Burma was awarded the exhibition’s “Country of Honor” this year and Thein Sein spoke at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Asean-member states inaugurate the event which runs from Sept. 19 to 24. Thein Sein last visited China in May 2011.

Burma is featuring its jade products at the event along with products from the sectors of agriculture, fishery, industry, manufacturing, traditional handicrafts, forestry and hotel and tourism.

The visit was Thein Sein's second to the northeastern China region since he took office in March 2011.

The trip followed a visit to Burma by China’s top legislator, Wu Bangguo.

The trade exhibition, cosponsored by the Chinese government and the 10 Asean member states, has been held annually since 2004.

According to Chinese official statistics, China-Burma bilateral trade totaled US$ 6.5 billion in 2011, up 46.3 percent from the year before. China's investment in Burma reached $20.26 billion by the end of last year, leading in Burma’s foreign trade and investment.

In the first six months of 2012, bilateral trade amounted to $2. 6 billion, while China' s investment in Burmaalso increased during the period.

In 2011, bilateral trade between Guangxi and Myanmar reached $56.19 million, up 197 percent up from 2010.

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