Myanmar President U Win Myint on Saturday met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Naypyidaw, the country's capital, with both sides pledging to strengthen high-level exchanges to push bilateral ties to a new high. 

The Myanmar president expressed gratitude to China for its long-term support for Myanmar's sovereignty, dignity and socio-economic development. 

He hoped that both sides will take the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year as an opportunity to consolidate and deepen mutual political trust, speed up the joint construction of the Belt and Road, comprehensively press forward the building of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor. The president also hope to expand cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, education, health, and enhance cooperation and coordination in regional and international issues so as to further advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. 

He also hoped that China would continue to support Myanmar in pressing forward the ongoing national reconciliation and peace process. 

For his part, Wang Yi said China and Myanmar are neighbors linked by rivers and mountains enjoying a "baobo" (brothers and relatives) friendship. Both countries advocate and practice the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, setting an example of equality and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries. 

He pledged that China will continue to firmly support Myanmar's efforts in pursuing a development path suited to its own national conditions, protecting its legitimate rights and national integrity in the international arena and maintaining its overall development and stability. China also appreciates Myanmar's firm support for China on issues bearing on its core interests and major concerns, he said. 

As the two countries will celebrate 70 years of diplomatic ties next year, China is willing to join hands with Myanmar to sum up experiences in bilateral cooperation in the past years while planning for future development of bilateral ties and carrying out a series of celebration activities, Wang said. 

Wang said China is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with Myanmar in the new year to push the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new high. 

China will stand firmly with the Myanmar people in the future national development process of Myanmar, Wang said Saturday during his talks with Myanmar State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi at Naypyidaw.

The Chinese foreign minister stressed China has always advocated the democratization of international relations, insisted that all countries should treat each other on an equal footing, opposed interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and did not support the multilateralization of bilateral issues.

China's development and revitalization is the growth of peace forces, which will bring development opportunities to all countries in the world, especially neighboring countries, he added.

In light of the celebrations next year that will mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Myanmar diplomatic relationship, Wang said the two sides should comprehensively promote cooperation at all levels.

"The two sides should carry forward 'Pauk-Phaw' friendship, deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation and work hand in hand to build a community with a shared future."

Wang also said China is willing to work with Myanmar to promote the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor from conceptual planning to the stage of substantive construction, and to turn it into a landmark project between China and Myanmar for the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Infrastructure connectivity is the backbone of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, and the two sides should carry out relevant cooperation in a down-to-earth manner," he noted.

The two sides should also speed up the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone and the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone, and so on, Wang added.

Suu Kyi thanked China for its strong support and help in safeguarding national sovereignty, opposing foreign interference, and promoting economic and social development.

"Myanmar is fully capable of dealing with the problems it faced with," she said, adding that Myanmar is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China on international and regional issues, and jointly defend the purpose and principles of the UN Charter.

Wang also met with several senior officials from Myanmar on the same day and the two sides agreed to further promote cooperation in electricity, transportation and the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone.

They stressed the importance of closer exchanges along the two countries' border areas, such as southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The Chinese foreign minister also held talks with Myanmar's Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing on Sunday.

Wang said that China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace talks in northern Myanmar, adding that he hopes all parties could sign a ceasefire agreement at an early date.

Lauding the Myanmar army as an important force in preserving the country's peace and stability as well as the friendship between China and Myanmar, Wang said the exchanges between the armed forces of the two countries represent an important part of the "baobo" (brothers and relatives) friendship.

The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in border control.

(With input from Xinhua)