China-Myanmar Cooperation Integral Part of Cross Border Exchange

By Zhang Wenge

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China-Myanmar Cooperation Integral Part of Cross Border Exchange

By Zhang Wenge

On June 8, 1950, China and Myanmar established formal diplomatic relations, and exchanged ambassadors, opening up a new era in their relations. On June 28, 1954, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai made his first visit to Myanmar. Leaders of the two sides unanimously agreed to use the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence as the principle guiding the relationship. Tey also proposed that the Five Principles were applicable to contacts between countries with diferent social systems.

More than half a century has gone by, and the Five Principles have stood the test of time. Despite numerous changes to the international environment, the principles are now widely accepted as the basic norm guiding country-to-country relations, thus playing a signifcant role in promoting world peace and stability as well as the progress of humankind.

With the progress made in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative and the concept of the Asian Community of Common Destiny, cooperation between China and Myanmar has also entered a new era. Recent years have seen exchanges and high-level visits. President Xi Jinping and President U Thein Sein met several times to exchange views on China-Myanmar ties. Their first meeting took place on September 4 last year when President U Tein Sein made a special trip to Beijing for the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the global struggle against Fascism. Xi stressed that China and Myanmar, as close neighbors, have always helped each other. Leaders of China and Myanmar unanimously agree to work in the interests of both peoples, and, with strategic long-term cooperation in mind, maintain a good grasp of the development orientation required. China appreciates Myanmar's support for the Belt and Road Initiative and is willing to cooperate with Myanmar closely to press ahead with construction of various projects, thus helping promote the economic and social development of Myanmar. China is also willing to discuss with Myanmar how to expand border trade and cultural exchange in the interests of both peoples.

Yunnan-Myanmar Cooperation In Full Swing

Bordering on Myanmar， China's Yunnan Province is at the forefront in communications with the neighbor. Towards the end of the 1980s， bilateral cooperation began with border trade， in particular， a booming trade in small Myanmar-made items such as cosmetics and garments. Subsequently， Chinesemade daily necessities， mechanical and electrical products and other commodities began making their way into Myanmar. From then， China-Myanmar trade showed good momentum and sustainable development.

In order to strengthen policy communication and smooth the channels for their joint beneft， Yunnan established a mutual consultation mechanism with the Ministry of Foreign Afairs of Myanmar in 2010，becoming an important link to promote pragmatic bilateral cooperation. This covered personnel exchanges， trade， energy， transport，electricity， agriculture， health， tourism， science and technology， culture， mineral exploration and other felds.

In August 2013， the First Yunnan-Myanmar Cooperation Forum was held in the provincial capital of Kunming， another important mechanism of cooperation between Yunnan and neighboring countries， following the development of ties with Vietnam， Laos and Thailand respectively， thus furthering improving the layout of regional cooperation among China and its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Through the Yunnan-Myanmar Cooperation Forum， the two sides are able to promote frank and in-depth exchanges on issues of common concern in economy， trade，agriculture， transport， tourism， education，health， culture， border management， public utilities and other felds， and reach broad consensus.

In 2014， Li Jiheng， Secretary of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee， accompanied Premier Li Keqiang on a visit to Myanmar. This was Li Jiheng's frst outbound visit after he took ofce. During the visit， he made an ofcial visit to Vice President U Nyan Tun in the national capital of Naypyidaw.

In May 2015， a Yunnan delegation led by Provincial Governor Chen Hao made a visit to Myanmar.

“We come to visit our friends during this time to continue our friendship， enhance understanding and promote cooperation，”Chen said during his meeting with President U Thein Sein. “We hope to further strengthen the mechanism of Yunnan-Myanmar Cooperation Forum， intensify friendly exchanges in the felds of tourism， agriculture，health， education and media， and so on， and accelerate the building of the Ruili-Muse Border Economic Cooperation Zone to further facilitate customs clearance. Joint eforts should also be made to build the Daluo-Kengtung-Tachilek-Chiengmai-Jinghong tourism economic circle.”

On June 11, 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing with a delegation of the Myanmar National League for Democracy led by its Chairperson Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. President Xi said China always treated its relationship with Myanmar from a strategic and long-term perspective, supported Myanmar in its efforts to safeguard its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, respected Myanmar's choice of development road, and sought further progress in national reconciliation. It also unswervingly sought to push forward the traditional friendship and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. President Xi expressed his hope Myanmar would be consistent in its handling of bilateral relations and would actively work to promote the development of friendship regardless of the changes in Myanmar's domestic situation.

President Xi noted that, since the Communist Party of China and the National League for Democracy had begun their exchanges, the two sides had made rapid progress in their relationship and their exchanges and cooperation had become increasingly close. He hoped Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy would continue to work in a constructive way to guide the Myanmar people to view China and Sino-Myanmar cooperation in a rational way, thus adding more positive energy to the future development of bilateral relations.

50%

Amount of China-Myanmar trade made up by China's southwestern Yunnan

Province and Myanmar

66years

Length of time since China and Myanmar frst established diplomatic ties in 1950.

Premier Zhou Enlai visited Myanmar in 1954

On March 15, 2016, President Xi Jinping sent a message to U Htin Kyaw to congrat-ulate him on his election as President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. President Xi said： “China and Myanmar are connected by mountains and rivers with long shared history of traditional ‘Paukphaw' friendship. To continuously deepen China-Myanmar good-neighborly friendship and mutually benefcial cooperation conforms to the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples. I would like to work together with you to push ahead the continuous and steady development of the China-Myanmar Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and bring about more benefts to our two peoples. I would like to work together with you to push ahead the continuous and steady development of the China-Myanmar Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and bring about more benefts to our two peoples. I am confdent that the People of Myanmar, under your leadership, will achieve greater achievements on national building and development. ”

With the efforts made by high-level authorities and thanks to the introduction of effective policies, a number of key projects have been undertaken. According to the strategic concept of the Belt and Road Initiative, China has aided construction of highways, railways and harbors in Myanmar； the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline has gone into operation； the Yunnan-Myanmar optic fiber cable transmission system has been built； efforts are being made to start projects geared to connect with the Myanmar Power Grid and help with expanding power trade and power construction. China undertook technical cooperation projects for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar in 2014. The Yunnan-Myanmar trade value has made up more than 50 percent of the total between the two countries for years, which shows that Yunnan is truly a major Chinese province in Myanmar's foreign cooperation.

Sixty years ago, Premier Zhou Enlai and Myanmar Prime Minister U Ba Swe planted a michelia champaca tree in the Yunnan border as a token of friendship between China and Myanmar. It has now grown into a large, healthy adult tree. China-Myanmar cooperation will undoubtedly usher in a new era of development and as the two countries continue to develop, it is facing a very bright future.