Xi Jinping talks increased cooperation with Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi

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Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in the western Indian state of Goa on Sunday, voicing hopes that the two countries can increase practical cooperation to press ahead with their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

China is willing to join hands with Myanmar to carry forward their traditional friendship and expand mutually-beneficial cooperation in all fields, Xi told Suu Kyi on the sidelines of an annual summit of the emerging-market bloc of BRICS that groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in Goa.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in the western Indian state of Goa, Oct. 16, 2016.

Xi cited such areas for cooperation as some existing large projects, industrial parks, infrastructure construction, agriculture, water conservancy, education, medical care, tourism, Buddhism and local affairs.

The president said Myanmar has maintained a momentum of sound development recently, and he believes that the Myanmar people will make steady progress on its path of development that suits its own national conditions and will make new achievements in national development and construction.

The two leaders just met about two months ago when Suu Kyi paid an official visit to China.

Xi said the two sides should earnestly implement the consensuses reached in August on deepening their all-round strategic cooperation, strengthening strategic communication, and maintaining high-level exchanges.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in the western Indian state of Goa, Oct. 16, 2016.‍

For her part, Suu Kyi said Myanmar and China enjoy a time-honored friendship, which has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.

She said Myanmar sees China as its most important neighbor and it is of vital importance for the two sides to maintain frequent high-level exchanges.

The Myanmar side thanks China for its long-term support, Suu Kyi said, noting that her country stands ready to advance the bilateral ties and all-ranging cooperation, and expedite efforts to implement some relevant cooperation projects, which is in line with the long-term interests of Myanmar and China.

Suu Kyi was invited here to attend a dialogue between BRICS leaders and state leaders of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries at the BRICS summit.

The BIMSTEC, initiated to connect South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

(Story from Xinhua)