Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi met with Chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Senior-General Than Shwe in Yangon Thursday.  

Wu said, with the brotherly traditional paukphaw (fraternal) friendship between the peoples of China and Myanmar, for half a century, the Sino-Myanmar neighborly and friendly ties have continuously developed. The two countries sympathized with and supported each other in the struggle for safeguarding national independence and sovereignty.

"We are not only the joint advocator of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, but have also become the pattern to abide by these principles in development of ties between nations," she noted.

At the meeting, Than Shwe said the peoples of Myanmar and China have deep traditional friendship. The close exchange between successive leaders of the two countries has played an important role in pushing the development of the two countries' bilateral ties.

He went on to say that China's selfless and long-term aid and support extended to Myanmar has also played an active role in promoting Myanmar's economic development and the improvement of its people's living standard, which Myanmar people would never forget.

He stressed that Myanmar regards China as a true friend, hoping the two sides would strengthen the friendly cooperation in the sectors of trade and economic cooperation and so on.

Than Shwe also emphasized that Myanmar as always holds that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China since ancient times and no matter how the situation changes, Myanmar would unshakably adopt the "one-China" policy.

He said the development of China is of importance to surrounding countries. He congratulated China on its great achievements made in the process of national construction.

China hopes that Myanmar will have a stable political situation, national conciliation and economic development, Wu said.

She maintained that Myanmar's affairs should be coordinated and resolved by the government and its people themselves. While respecting Myanmar's sovereignty, the international community should, in a positive and constructive manner, extend assistance to Myanmar.

She hoped that the Myanmar government could push the situation developing towards a more positive direction.

Present on the occasion were Myanmar SPDC Vice Chairman Vice Senior General Maung Aye, Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt and Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Li Jinjun as well as key members of Wu's entourage.

At the invitation of Myanmar SPDC First Secretary Lieutenant-General Soe Win, Wu arrived here on Tuesday on a four-day official visit to Myanmar, bringing a strong group of some 40 Chinese leading entrepreneurs.

Myanmar is the third leg of Wu's four-nation tour to Southeast Asia and South Asia. She has visited Laos and Cambodia and will proceed to Maldives after Myanmar visit.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2004)