Friday, 14 September 2012 12:27 Mizzima News
China's top legislator called for advancement of large, joint projects between the two countries and further efforts to secure peace with ethnic groups along the Sino-Burmese border.
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| Wu Bangguo Photo: english.gov.cn |
Wu Bangguo, the chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), made the proposals during talks with Shwe Mann, the speaker of the Lower House of Parliament on Thursday.
He said the two countries should continue to advance large projects such as the China-Burma oil and natural gas pipeline project, which is underway, to encourage confidence in bilateral trade exchanges, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.
The article did not mention the postponed Myitsone hydropower dam, a joint China-Burma project, which was discontinued by President Thein Sein after widespread opposition in the area and among conservation and political groups. The bulk of the electricity would have gone to China.
Wu arrived in Burma on Wednesday for an official goodwill visit, the first-ever visit to Burma by a chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.
“I hope the two countries could earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and further deepen traditional friendship, enhance mutually beneficial cooperation and promote common development,” said Wu.
He urged the two countries to maintain high-level visits and lay down an action plan for a China-Burma comprehensive strategic partnership.
He said China would cooperate on border management and jointly safeguard stability in the border region, adding that China hopes Burma can solve issues with ethnic armed groups through peaceful negotiations. There was no mention of China recently sending Kachin refugees back to Burma, and they had fled fighting in the boder area during the past year.
The Chinese leader also suggested the two countries step up coordination on multilateral issues like the United Nations, East Asia cooperation, Asean regional forum, and the greater Mekong sub-regional economic cooperation.
Wu said he hoped the two countries could support each other on issues concerning core interests and safeguard common benefits for both countries.
Wu and Shwe Mann said the two legislative bodies would also cooperate and learn from each other regarding the building of democracy and the legal system as well as state governance, and increased communication between international and regional parliament organizations.
Burma is the second stop on Wu's four-nation tour, which includes Sri Lanka and Fiji. He has concluded a visit to Iran.
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