Suu Kyi's visit seen as bid to boost friendship

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in Beijing on Aug 17 to start her first China visit as her country's No 2 political figure.

During her five-day visit, Premier Li Keqiang hosted a welcoming ceremony and held talks with Suu Kyi in the capital on Aug 18. She will also visit other cities.

A ceremony will be held for the signing of bilateral documents, according to the Foreign Ministry, although details of the pacts were not disclosed.

China is currently Myanmar's most important trade partner and one of the main sources of foreign direct investment.

Xu Liping, a senior researcher on Southeast Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, says Suu Kyi's visit signals the political will to cement the two countries' traditional friendship.

"Now Myanmar is faced with many issues, such as the domestic reconciliation process, and resolving them cannot be achieved without cooperation with China," Xu says.

Xu adds that Myanmar "needs more investment from China" in light of China's role as one of its biggest investors.

Beijing has sent key diplomats to maintain close contact with Suu Kyi in recent months, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Song Tao, head of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee's International Department.

Song visited Myanmar this month and met with Suu Kyi on Aug 11 in Myanmar's capital, Nay Pyi Taw.

Suu Kyi told Song that Myanmar attaches great importance to developing bilateral ties, and she says her China visit will further promote cooperation.

Zhou Yongsheng, a professor of international relations at China Foreign Affairs University, says the two countries need talks to minimize their differences and expand common ground.

"They particularly should promote cooperation in connectivity and infrastructure construction, which are beneficial to the economy of both sides," Zhou says.

In June last year, Suu Kyi was invited to visit China for her first time as chair of the National League for Democracy.

Her party scored a landslide election victory this year, and her new government was formed in March. Since then, she has visited Laos and Thailand.

The China visit marks her first as state counselor outside Southeast Asia.

zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/19/2016 page15)