Myanmar ministers have stressed the development of the country's border trade with five objectives to promote bilateral trade with neighboring China.

The emphasis was made by some ministers including Minister of Commerce Brigadier-General Tin Naing Thein when they inspected the Muse 105th Mile Border Trade Zone in the last few days, the official newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Thursday.

The five objectives of developing border trade include cementing of friendly relationship between Myanmar and China, promotion of bilateral trade, transformation of border trade into normal trade and full collection of tax.

The ministers disclosed that the transformation of border trade into normal one is underway in the Muse zone which is Myanmar's main border trade point with China formally inaugurated on April 11 this year and the zone was built to mainly trade agricultural produce, fruit and marine products at reasonable prices.

Noting that the government will render assistance to businessmen to conduct large-scale border trade, the ministers warned government staff against corruption and urged traders on their part to do business with sincerity.

They revealed the fruits and vegetables have got a firm footing in the Muse market, stressing the need to find market for agricultural produce and fishery products.

According to the ministers, daily trade volume in Muse ranges between 500,000 U.S. dollars and one million dollars with 347 million dollars being registered in the fiscal year of 2004-05, 505 million dollars in 2005-06 and 207 million dollars in the first quarter of 2006-07, and it is predicted that the total trade volume in 2006-07 will be higher than the previous year.

The ministers further disclosed that out of 163 plots reclaimed for the zone, 97 have been sold to merchants in installment.

Meanwhile, according to Chinese official statistics, China- Myanmar bilateral trade hit 1.209 billion dollars in 2005, up 5.6 percent from 2004. Of the total, China's exports to Myanmar took 935 million dollars, while its import from Myanmar stood 274 million dollars.

The trade volume between Yunnan province and Myanmar, including the border trade, amounted to 630 million dollars during the year, up 14.6 percent from the previous year. Of the total, Yunnan's exports to Myanmar represented 400 million dollars, while its imports from Myanmar was valued at 230 million dollars, the figures show.

Source: Xinhua