A ceremony of presenting a bulk of railway carriages by China to Myanmar for use in improving the latter's rail links was held in Yangon Monday.

The presentation of the bulk of 225 railway carriages, which includes 5 engines, 20 passenger coaches and 200 freight coaches, were offered by the Chinese side during the attendance of Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein at the 5th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Economic and Investment Summit in Nanning in October 2008.

The hand-over ceremony, attended by Myanmar Minister of Rail Transportation Major-General Aung Min and Director-General of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Railways of China Chen Juemin, took place on the occasion of the visit of a seven-member Chinese railway delegation, headed by Chen.

Director-General of the Myanmar Railways U Thein Swe said at the ceremony that it is the second time for China to present to the country railway carriages, while the first was in June 2006 with 130 passenger coaches which have run for three years, assisting in facilitating the country's rail transport.

On the occasion, Chen said the presentation brings friendship between peoples of the two countries as well as that between the two railways.

He expressed belief that the extensive cooperation sector wise between the two countries' railway transportation would benefit mutually.

According to official figures, Myanmar rail tracks extend as long as 6,942 kilometers now.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2009)