A Myanmar-China border trade fair will be held in Myanmar's border town of Muse linking China's Ruili to boost the border trade between the two countries.

According to the exhibition sources, the biennial border trade fair is scheduled for Dec. 18-22.

Exhibits at the five-day border trade fair from the Myanmar side will include value-added finished timber products, handicraft, marine products, gem items, personal and household goods, costume, cigarette and beer, while those from the Chinese side will cover foodstuff such as beverage, biscuit, cake and wafer, plastic products, cement, iron products, edible palm oil and ceiling roof zinc plates, the sources said.

The economic and trade relations between Myanmar and China have continued to develop in recent years.

According to official statistics, their bilateral trade, including border trade, reached 1.07 billion US dollars in 2003 with Myanmar's exports to China amounting to 170 million US dollars, while its import from China 900 million dollars.

Myanmar has opened six border trade points along the border with China.

Meanwhile, under a framework agreement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China initiated in 2002, China has unilaterally cut import tariff on over 100 Myanmar products along with those of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Besides, under an early harvest plan, which is an advanced countrywise program of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area targeted for establishment by 2010, Myanmar and China have started some free trade activities, covering 596 items of products, the tariff of which is set to be ultimately removed by 2009.