NAY PYI TAW, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- During Chinese President Xi Jinping's first overseas trip in 2020 -- a state visit to Myanmar -- the two countries have agreed to work together to build a community with a shared future and boost bilateral cooperation in various fields.
During the two-day visit, Xi attended 12 events and witnessed the signing of 29 cooperation documents, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday, adding that the two sides have also issued a joint statement.
Myanmar scholars and experts believed that Xi's fruitful visit would become a milestone in China-Myanmar relations and open a new chapter of the millennia-old "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship between the two countries.
COMMUNITY WITH SHARED FUTURE
China and Myanmar have agreed to consolidate traditional bonds of friendship, promote comprehensive strategic cooperation, and build a community with a shared future, and the two sides have made plans for exchanges and cooperation in various fields for the next stage, according to their joint statement issued during the Chinese president's visit.
Building a community with a shared future between the two countries is an important result of Xi's visit, as it will help China and Myanmar achieve more win-win results, said Aung Tun Thet, member of Myanmar Peace Commission, adding that the Myanmar society highly recognizes this agreement.
"Building a community with (a) shared future is a great support for us as we have been faced with many challenges here," said Joint Secretary of the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies U Khin Maung Lynn.
China's action as a real friend is very encouraging, and the two sides need to implement those projects for the benefit and friendship of the two peoples, he added.
U Ko Ko Hlaing, co-founder of Center for Strategic and International Studies of Myanmar, said a closer cooperation will introduce new opportunities in various sectors such as social and cultural exchanges.
The China-Myanmar Year of Culture and Tourism, for example, will enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples, he said.
MAJOR PROJECTS TO BOOST BRI CONSTRUCTION
The statement said the two sides have agreed to step up their cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and on building of the Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the New Yangon City, the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone, as well as roads, railways and power and energy infrastructures.
Professor Khin Ma Ma Myo of International Relations Department at the University of Yangon said Myanmar is a key link between Southeast Asia and South Asia, so the improvement of transportation routes, ports, bridges and economic zones will be of great help for the two countries' economic and people-to-people relations.
U Hla Maung Shwe, vice president of Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said he believes that the BRI cooperation and the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) will help Myanmar deliver sustained economic development.
China and Myanmar will reach win-win results and fulfill their respective goals for development, he said.
U Ko Ko Hlaing said as the projects of infrastructure and SEZs are under construction, it is expected that tangible progress in the sector can be seen in the near future.
He said he believes that the CMEC will be a significant project for the development of Myanmar since its benefits will cover broader areas across the country with the development of infrastructures, industrial complexes and SEZs.
CULTURAL EXCHANGES FOR FRIENDSHIP
The statement also mentioned that the two countries have agreed to hold the China-Myanmar Year of Culture and Tourism in 2020, celebrate the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, and strengthen the exchanges and cooperation in such fields as education, culture, tourism, religion and media.
The China-Myanmar Year of Culture and Tourism in 2020 will deepen social and cultural exchanges and strengthen the "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship with solid ground, said President of Myanmar-China Friendship Association (Central) U Sein Win Aung.
More and more Chinese tourists have chosen Myanmar as their travel destination, which is good for the understanding of the two peoples. Myanmar welcomes them and will do the best to provide convenience for Chinese tourists, said Aung Tun Thet.
Besides tourism, bilateral cooperation and exchanges in fields of education, religion, media, film and television should also be promoted, U Ko Ko Hlaing said.
Media practitioners, think tank experts, foreign teachers and artists from both nations should have closer cooperation for better understanding between the two peoples, which will inject new vitality into the "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship, he said.
