Jiang, who arrived in the capital Wednesday for a four-day state visit, said both sides, in order to contribute to the stability and development in the region and the world, might enhance communication in the United Nations, ASEAN Region Forum and ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and Republic of Korea).

On economic and trade relations, Jiang proposed to put emphasis on cooperation in the fields of agriculture, human resources and infrastructure construction.

"China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to make investment in Myanmar," Jiang was quoted as saying by a Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Economic and trade relations between China and Myanmar have witnessed consistent development after the Asian financial crisis. The trade volume last year increased by a wide margin, reaching US$621.264 million, an increase of 22.2 percent compared with the previous year. Of this, China's exports were US$496.443 million, an increase of 22.1 percent, and imports were US$124.82 million, an increase of 22.8 percent.

China's main exports to Myanmar include textiles, chemical raw materials, instruments and meters, machinery and medicines, while the main imports from Myanmar include timber, local products, jade and livestock products. Investment by Chinese companies in Myanmar has exceeded US$30 million, according to Chinese official statistics.

Echoing Jiang's suggestions on bilateral economic and trade ties, Than Shwe briefed Jiang on Myanmar's domestic political and economic situation, saying the Myanmar Government and people will never forget the Chinese Government and people for their true and valuable support for Myanmar's national construction.

He said he hopes China, as a huge developing nation, will play a greater role in international and regional affairs in a bid to safeguard the interests of the broad developing countries, build up a more reasonable and new international order, and make a greater contribution to the cause of peace and development in Asia and the world.

He also said Myanmar will consistently abide by the one-China policy and will never have any official ties with Taiwan, expressing the wish to further develop the "paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship with China.

Jiang said both countries shared similar experiences in their history, and support each other in fighting for independence and liberation, preserving sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in the national constructions.

He noted the policy to develop bilateral good-neighborly friendship will be unchangeable.

Jiang called to deepen the two countries' cooperation so as to ceaselessly develop the Sino-Myanmar friendly cause initiated by leaders of elder generations of the two countries.

Myanmar is one of the earliest countries that recognized the People's Republic of China after New China was founded. Myanmar firmly supported China in resuming its legal seat in the United Nations.

After expressing China's appreciation to important achievements in bringing about political stability, national reconciliation, economic development and in foreign relations made by Myanmar, Jiang expressed willingness to strive with the Myanmar side to actively implement the contents contained in the China-Myanmar Joint Statement, and deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation of the two nations in each sector.

(China Daily December 13, 2001)