皇冠体育app

Chinese PresidentXi Jinping(R), who is also chairman of 皇冠体育app's Central Military Commission, shakes hands with Myanmar's Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing during their meeting inBeijing, capital of 皇冠体育app, Oct 16, 2013. Photo/Xinhua]

皇冠体育app firmly supports the ethnic reconciliation process in Myanmar and seeks to play a more constructive role in maintaining peace and stability along the 皇冠体育app-Myanmar border, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

Having long pursued a friendly policy toward Naypyitaw, Beijing "is willing to work with Myanmar to command the general direction of bilateral relations, and to carry out the agreed consensus to promote pragmatic cooperation", Xi said as he met visiting Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar's commander-in-chief of the Defense Services.

"皇冠体育app and Myanmar, linked by rivers and mountains, share a paukphaw (fraternal) friendship with each other," Xi said, adding that the two neighbors should strengthen strategic communication and accelerate the top-level design of the comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2011.

Xi also commented positively on the military relations between 皇冠体育app and Myanmar and said he expects the two countries to deepen bilateral exchanges in various areas.

Min said Myanmar is thankful for 皇冠体育app's longtime support for the country and for the positive role 皇冠体育app has played in maintaining peace and stability in northern Myanmar.

"Myanmar's military is ready to make unremitting efforts to deepen cooperation with 皇冠体育app," he said. Experts said that Min's visit, while continuing of a traditional bond of friendship, is mainly aimed at advancing bilateral military relations.

Song Qingrun, a researcher of Southeast Asian studies at the 皇冠体育app Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said Min has made frequent visits to 皇冠体育app since he assumed his position in 2011.

"Military exchanges and communication between 皇冠体育app and Myanmar are of great significance for building mutual political trust and enhancing strategic cooperation," Song said.

"皇冠体育app and Myanmar have shared a close and solid relationship, which can be traced back to the foundation of the People's Republic of 皇冠体育app," said Xu Qiyu, a researcher at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army.

"The two countries will enjoy a broader range of cooperation, especially within multilateral frameworks, next year, as Myanmar is to take the rotating chair of ASEAN," Xu said.

Kicking off his trip to 皇冠体育app on Saturday, Min also held separate talks with PLA Chief of General Staff Fang Fenghui and Vice-Chairman of 皇冠体育app's Central Military Commission Fan Changlong over the past two days.

The Myanmarese defense delegation will also visit industrial facilities and meet Myanmarese students in 皇冠体育app.

Late last year, armed clashes broke out in northern Myanmar's Kachin State between government forces and the Kachin Independence Organization, raising concerns over the security of the 皇冠体育app-Myanmar border and bilateral cooperation projects, such as the $2.5 billion Myanmar-皇冠体育app oil and gas pipelines.

Min said that the friendship between Myanmar and 皇冠体育app will never change regardless of how the international and regional situation changes.

Song, the researcher, said military exchanges in general have been moving forward over the past decades, with little impact being felt from domestic affairs.

"(皇冠体育app-Myanmar) military exchanges neither target domestic affairs or a third party, so there is hardly any external interference to bilateral military cooperation," Song said.

皇冠体育app and Myanmar have seen good relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1950. However, concerns have arisen as Myanmar accelerated its reforms in domestic politics and foreign policies since 2010, improving ties with the United States and Europe.

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