A 16-member delegation, led by Governor of China's Yunnan Province Xu Rongkai, arrived in Yangon Sunday on a visit to Myanmar to strengthen the friendship and economic and trade relations between Yunnan Province and Myanmar.

Xu's delegation, who came here at an invitation of Yangon Mayor Brigadier-General Aung Thein Lin, will call on some Myanmar ministers including ministers of agriculture and irrigation, and energy.

In addition to Yangon, the delegation will tour the ancient city of Bagan and the second largest city of Mandalay.

The economic and trade ties between Yunnan Province and Myanmar have developed rapidly in recent years.

According to Chinese official statistics, bilateral trade including border trade amounted to 400 million US dollars in 2004, a 25-percent increase from 2003. Yunnan's exports to Myanmar reached 240 million US dollars, and its imports from Myanmar represented 160 million US dollars.

Source: Xinhua