Myanmar to enhance economic, trade cooperation with Chinese Yunnan province

Myanmar leader Lieutenant-General Thein Sein said on Tuesday in Yangon that his country wishes to enhance economic and trade cooperation with Yunnan province of China.

Thein Sein, First Secretary of the State Peace and Development Council, made the remarks when he met with visiting governor of Yunnan province of China Xu Rongkai.

At the meeting, Xu stressed that his Yangon visit is to develop the traditional and friendly ties with Myanmar and boost economic and trade relations between Yunnan province and the country.

On Monday, Xu met with several other Myanmar ministers separately. The two sides had discussions on launching bilateral cooperation in the sectors of agriculture, oil and gas, and electric power, boosting of normal and border trade, strengthening of border area management including joint combating of narcotic- drug-related cases and transnational crimes such as human trafficking.

According to Chinese official statistics, China-Myanmar trade amounted to 1.145 billion US dollars in 2004, up 6.3 percent from 2003.

Trade between Yunnan Province and Myanmar, including the border trade, amounted to 400 million US dollars in 2004, a 25-percent increase from 2003. Yunnan's exports to Myanmar took 240 million dollars, while its imports from Myanmar represented 160 million dollars, the figures show.

Xu, who leads a 16-member delegation, arrived here Sunday on a visit to Myanmar at the invitation of Yangon Mayor Brigadier- General Aung Thein Lin.

Source: Xinhua