26 February 2012—Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Thura U Shwe Mann called on Chairman of National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China Mr Wu Bangguo at the Xin Jiang room of the People’s Hall in Beijing at 5 pm on 24 February 2012.

Also present on the occasion together with the Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker were Chairman of Pyithu Hluttaw National Races Affairs and Internal Peace Making Committee U Thein Zaw, Chairman of Pyithu Hluttaw International Relations Committee U Hla Myint Oo, Chairman of Pyithu Hluttaw Social Development Committee U Maung Maung Swe, Chairman of Pyithu Hluttaw Water Transport Committee U Kyi Min, Speaker of Yangon Region Hluttaw U Sein Tin Win, Speaker of Ayeyawady Region Hluttaw U Hsan Hsint, Secretary of Pyithu Hluttaw Reform and Development Scrutiny Committee Dr Maung Maung Wint, member of Pyithu Hluttaw Public Affairs Management Committee Col Htay Naing, Myanmar Ambassador to the PRC U Tin Oo and officials of Pyithu Hluttaw.

The NPC Chairman was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Zhang Zhijun, Secretary of Central Committee of Communist Party of China Mr Deng Sheng Ming, Deputy Secretary-General of NPC Mr Cao Wei Zhou, Director-General of NPC Foreign Relations Department Mr Hu Xiaoli, Director-General of Asia Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Luo Zhao Hui and high-ranking officials.

At the meeting, Mr Wu Bangguo said it is believed that Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw Thura U Shwe Mann has many good friends as the latter had made frequent visit to PRC, that it is leant that His Excellency met with Chairman of Chinese Political Consultative Conference Mr Jia Qinglin and Chief of Staff General Chen Bingde of People’s Liberation Army of China yesterday, and member of Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Mr Li Yuanchao and Vice Chairman of NPC Mr Lu Yongxiang this morning.

Mr Wu Bangguo praised Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw Thura U Shwe Mann for his brilliant efforts for development of Myanmar-China relations and expressed his believe that the current trip would bring about more mutual understanding as well as would serve as an impetus for cooperation between the two parliaments of Myanmar and China.

The Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker for his part expressed his pleasure to have met with the NPC Chairman, saying that Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is now in session in Myanmar in which matters on future economic plans, division of budgets are being discussed. Attaching great importance to the invitation of the NPC Chairman, he was in PRC for strengthening friendly ties between the two parliaments although the Hluttaw session in Myanmar is an crucial one.

He expressed his thanks for being extended a warm welcome by officials on arrival at Kuming, saying that he held a cordial discussion with Mr Jia Qinglin on cooperation matters, and also held a frank discussion with the commanderin- chief of the People’s Liberation Army. He said that he discussed about party affairs with member of Political Committee of Central Committee of Communist Party this morning.

The PRC has been able to keep its economic development and peace and stability though its area is every large and its population is over 1300 million with 56 national races. This is largely attributable to the effective and subtle leadership of the Communist Party, and this being the case, a long discussion was held to learn those experiences, he added.

He went to say that Myanmar thanked China as the latter had stood by the former, saying that owing to the fact Myanmar has emerged as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. And he was happy with the support of China to Myanmar’s marching to path chosen by the people.

He said he took pride in China’s respect on Myanmar’s territorial integrity. Myanmar had constantly supported the One China Policy. Myanmar held the same standpoint like China in Tibet, Taiwan and Xinjiang regions affairs. He then repeated the Myanmar’s support for peaceful development plan of China.

He said he believed that the development of China would benefit Myanmar for its advancement. He added that he assumed that it was needed to set up detailed plans to promote comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Myanmar. He then invited the Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker to share his ideas and suggestions for fostering the bilateral relations.

Next, Mr Wu Bangguo in his speech said that the visit of Myanmar delegation and exchange of views with Chinese contributed to mutual trust. The relations between the two countries dated back over 2000 years and Chinese people already had affection for Myanmar people. He said he paid a visit to Myanmar in 1997 during which he could feel the friendliness of Myanmar people. He then expressed his pleasure of seeing Myanmar enjoying development in a few years.

The move towards comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations was indeed turning a new chapter. The relationship between China and Myanmar was built on mutual trust. The two neighbours were cooperating not only in economic and trade but in regional and international arena.

Moreover, the leaders of the two countries wished deepened relationship. For this, the first and foremost requirement was exchange of visits between high-ranking officials of the two countries. It was good being able to hold talks on bilateral relations and matter of common interests at a time like this when conditions were changing at terrific speed. He said he would also like to invite Myanmar leaders to visit China.

He said that it is learnt that Myanmar President U Thein Sein would pay a goodwill visit to Nanning of China during the last six-month period of this year. He said he would like to invite Vice- President Thiha Thura U Tin Aung Myint Oo to visit China at opportune time. It is needed to draw detailed plans for cooperative programmes to deepen the bilateral relations. Only then, the bilateral relations would be more meaningful and could go strength from strength.

Moreover, it was required to parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. The bilateral ties could be further strengthened by promoting cooperation between the Union Solidarity and Development Party from Myanmar and Communist Party of China including signing of MoU on going partnership in important sectors. Mutual exchange and studies could be done between the parties. The communication between the parliaments and parties of the two countries was an important element for comprehensive strategic partnership.

Furthermore, it is needed to promote economic and commercial ties further between the two countries, said he adding that in his capacity as the Vice Premier, he took the helm of economic affairs and visited Myanmar in 1997 to observe potentials for economic cooperation between the two countries. Myanmar held a geographically important position and was rich in natural resources. However, the western powers had imposed sanctions against Myanmar since 1988. Nevertheless, the economic cooperation and trade activities between China and Myanmar maintained steady increase. Now, China was the biggest trade partner of Myanmar and the two nations had been expanding the area of trade activities. Economic cooperation could strengthen the bilateral relations.

He said he assumed that the suspension of Myitsone Dam was due to internal and external situations, expressing his belief to reach a settlement through negotiations. China had also constructed mega dams like Three Georges which had greatly benefited the nation.

He said that western countries were disrupting some industries showing concern over environmental conservation and climate change. It had been over 30 years that China had been practicing open-door economic policy also with invitation of FDI and importation of technologies from the western countries. It was learnt that Myanmar was intimating special economic zone projects, which was believed to attract foreign investments.

The economic cooperation between the two nations would deepen the amity and the economic cooperation between China and Myanmar is mutually beneficial movement. Some of the China’s mega businesses in Myanmar were infrastructural development projects, deep sea ports, petrol and natural gas pipeline, and construction of railroads and motor roads, which had created many a number of jobs. In addition, those businesses also assisted in social works. China would assist in industrialization process of Myanmar through bilateral cooperation.

In the area of people to people cooperation, the sacred Buddha tooth relic of the PRC was conveyed to Myanmar and the Myanmar people earnestly paid obeisance to the tooth relic. A Chinese disabled sport team visited Myanmar and anther Beijing acrobatic team will also pay a visit soon. And these moves are requirements for longlasting cooperation and amity between the two peoples.

Moreover, there is cooperation in the framework of ASEAN+3 cooperation. Myanmar is due to take ASEAN Chairmanship in 2014. China wishes to see more improved Sino-Myanmar relations within the ASEAN framework. When it comes to the mutual interest, Myanmar and China have supported each other. China values the support of Myanmar in the Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang issues. Thus, the bilateral ties will be improved more and it is hoped that the current visit will promote bilateral cooperation between the two congresses, said Mr Wu Bangguo.

In response, the Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker said he expressed his thanks for detailed explanation. Arrangements are necessary for the leaders of the two countries so as to further strengthen the bilateral ties. It is also required to promote cooperation between the Union Solidarity and Development Party of Myanmar and China Communist Party and between the two congresses. In addition, exchange visits between the MPs of the two congresses are needed.

The Speaker stressed the need to promote technical cooperation as well as cooperation between economy and trade. Myanmar would like to receive China’s assistance to improve science and technology. In the social and cultural field, Myanmar expressed its deepest thanks to China for conveying the Buddha tooth relic to the country for public obeisance. Myanmar wishes to see more exchange visits in the cultural sector and values China’s active cooperation in ASEAN+3 frame work.

Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann continued that in the bilateral economic cooperation Myanmar and China need to act taking lesson from the Myitson issue. The ongoing projects such as oil and gas pipelines, Kyaukpyu deep seaport and motor roads and railroads will greatly benefit the two countries. So, it is necessary to continue the projects till their success.

The future Sino-Myanmar relations are important for both countries. Particularly, special care is needed in security, stability and defence matters. Coordination is always necessary between the leaders of the two countries and between the two parties.

The Speaker added that although Myanmar has a lot of political parties which have different aims, the Union Solidarity and Development Party will continue to try to build up a peaceful, modern and developed democratic nation with the main aim of serving the interests of the nation and the people. Recently, Western countries have made many visits to Myanmar.

Among them, he also received the guests from those countries, said the Speaker. In receiving US State Secretary Hilary Clinton, the Myanmar side said that the country wanted to normalize the relations with the US but did not accept any policy, plan and move from any nation or organization that are designed to harm the interests of the Myanmar people.

Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann went on to say that he expressed his thanks to China for demanding the lifting of economic sanctions against Myanmar. No matter how the Western countries tried to approach Myanmar, any action harming the cooperation with China would not be acceptable. Myanmar will continue to highlight the multilateral strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Then, the Speaker said he wished to invite the Chairman to visit Myanmar at an opportune time. And the visit will further cement the bilateral ties, he concluded.

Mr Wu Bangguo said that he agreed on the promoting of bilateral cooperation between the two congresses. China respects Myanmar’s path to development and supports its choice of policysuitable to the prevailing objective conditions. As far as China is concerned, the Western countries have taken greater interest in Myanmar. But, he said he is delighted by the fact that Myanmar will try not to harm the cooperation with China in normalizing the relations with those Western countries. Good international relations and open economy of Myanmar are indeed essential requirements for economic development, noted Mr Wu Bangguo. China has enjoyed fruits of economic development due to the creation of sound international environment. With economic development, rights and privileges of own countries can be protected.

Western countries know that China will not accept any act harming its own interest in dealing with them. Integrity and sovereignty must be respected in the arena of international relations, concluded Mr Wu Bangguo.

Then, Mr Wu Bangguo hosted a dinner of the Myanmar delegation at the West Hall of the People’s Hall. During the dinner, Chinese artists performed dances and songs. The Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker and the National People’s Congress Chairman exchanged mementos. Later, the Speaker greeted and presented souvenirs to the artists.