During Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's two-day visit to Myanmar, the two countries have reached broad consensuses on the future development of bilateral ties.
China promised to provide Myanmar with a batch of COVID-19 vaccines for free, and the two countries agreed to establish the "fast lane" for personnel movement and the "green channel" for goods, according to a statement published by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Both sides agreed to advance high-quality cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, speed up the construction of projects, including the Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone, the New Yangon City, and the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone.
China is also actively considering to provide Myanmar with financing support, according to the statement.
Beijing will "pressingly" deliver COVID-19 vaccines to Myanmar to help its Asian neighbor control the pandemic, according to Wang on Monday.
Just on Sunday alone, Myanmar's Ministry of Health and Sports reported 555 more COVID-19 cases, bringing the tally to 130,604.
"I believe the friendship between China and Myanmar will deepen further through test of the COVID-19 pandemic," Wang told Myanmar President U Win Myint in Nay Pyi Taw, capital of Myanmar. The Chinese diplomat has just embarked on his six-day Southeast Asia tour, just a day after his Africa visit.
On his part, the Myanmar president first spoke highly of the relationship between the two countries. "Although in time of a global pandemic, [Wang] still came visit as one of the first [diplomats]," he said.
He also vowed to deepen the ties and is willing to cooperate with Beijing in sectors including COVID-19 vaccine, culture and tourism.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Myanmar's President U Win Myint in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, January 11, 2021. /Chinese Foreign Ministry
Also on Monday, Wang met with Myanmar's State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi. During the meeting, Wang assured Suu Kyi of China's firm support in her country's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interest and called for joint efforts in strengthening bilateral ties.
Noting that he is the first foreign minister to visit Myanmar after the Southeast Asian country's general elections, Wang said his visit shows China attaches great importance to its ties with Myanmar.
China is willing to continue to support Myanmar to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang noted, and will provide it with a batch of anti-epidemic materials and COVID-19 vaccines.
Viewing the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) as the flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese foreign minister said China is also willing to speed up the construction of the western, northern, and eastern ends of the CMEC to promote an early implementation of the Kyaukpyu deep sea port, the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone and the New Yangon City.
China is ready to work with Myanmar to implement the five-year plan for economic and trade cooperation to boost Myanmar's development, he added.
Noting that Myanmar will assume the roles of the country coordinator of China-ASEAN relations and co-chair of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), Wang hoped the two countries could take this opportunity to push China-ASEAN relations to a higher level and promote the development of the LMC.
Wang also met with U Kyaw Tint Swe, minister of the State Counsellor's Office, the same day.
During a meeting with Myanmar Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw Tuesday, Wang said China will continue to support Myanmar to safeguard its national sovereignty and legitimate rights and believed that Myanmar will continue to support China in issues concerning China's core interests.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Myanmar Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, January 12, 2021. /Chinese Foreign Ministry
China decided to provide an emergency aid of COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies to Myanmar to support its fight against the pandemic, and is willing to carry out further vaccine cooperation with Myanmar, said Wang.
Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar will continue to support China on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
He thanked China for its assistance in the fight against the pandemic and said Myanmar Army will maintain communication with China in pushing forward the construction of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
(With input from Xinhua)