Wang Yi Holds Talks with Myanmar's Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin

On April 1, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with visiting Myanmar's Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin in Tunxi, Anhui Province.

Wang Yi said, China and Myanmar, linked by mountains and rivers, enjoy a profound "pauk-phaw" friendship. China cherishes the traditional friendship between China and Myanmar and always puts Myanmar in an important place in its neighborhood diplomacy. No matter how the situation changes, China will always support Myanmar in safeguarding sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and exploring a development path in line with its national conditions, and support the people of Myanmar in pursuing a happy and peaceful life. China is ready to work with Myanmar to implement the outcomes of President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Myanmar, forge the four pillars of political mutual trust, mutually beneficial cooperation, people-to-people bonds and mutual learning in culture and people-to-people exchanges, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields in a coordinated manner, so as to achieve the goal of building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future.

Wang Yi said, China is ready to conduct experience-sharing on state governance and development with Myanmar's government and various parties and factions, so as to help Myanmar realize domestic political reconciliation and restart the process of democratic transition. The two sides should advance the construction of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, strengthen cooperation on industrial parks, cross-border power grids and connectivity, and implement well major landmark projects. Efforts should be made to enhance solidarity against the COVID-19 pandemic and give full play to the positive effects of vaccine filling and packaging cooperation. China will continue to make all-out efforts to offer vaccines and anti-pandemic supplies to Myanmar according to its needs. Demonstration projects of poverty alleviation, as well as cooperation covering centers for disease control and prevention, rural roads and bridges, and industrial training centers, should be advanced at a faster pace, with priorities given to the implementation of a batch of "small yet smart" livelihood projects.

On behalf of Myanmar, U Wunna Maung Lwin extended congratulations on the successful hosting of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and the successful convening of the Two Sessions. U Wunna Maung Lwin said, I am very glad to visit China upon invitation, and this is my first visit to a country beyond the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), fully demonstrating the profound and unique "pauk-phaw" friendship between Myanmar and China. Both sides always treat each other as equals and respect each other. Myanmar will firmly stick to the principle of peaceful coexistence jointly advocated by the two countries, and implement the outcomes of President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Myanmar to develop and build a Myanmar-China community with a shared future. Myanmar firmly adheres to the one-China principle. There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. Myanmar fully supports China's position on issues involving its core interests. He thanked China for its tremendous support for Myanmar's development and pandemic response. Myanmar is ready to expand economic and trade cooperation, speed up the construction of the economic corridor, and work for more substantive results of Belt and Road cooperation.

The two sides had in-depth communication on regional cooperation. Wang Yi said, China supports Myanmar in fulfilling its role as the country coordinator for China-ASEAN relations and co-chair of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) mechanism, and hosting the fourth LMC Leaders' Meeting and the seventh Foreign Ministers' Meeting this year, and China is ready to jointly push all parties to reach an agreement on the five-year action plan as soon as possible.

U Wunna Maung Lwin introduced the Special Envoy of ASEAN to Myanmar's visit to his country. Wang Yi said, Myanmar is a member of the big ASEAN family, and China hopes that ASEAN countries adhere to the ASEAN way, safeguard ASEAN solidarity, send a common message, and work with Myanmar to constructively implement the ASEAN's "five-point consensus" based on the principle of non-interference in internal affairs.

The two sides also exchanged views on the South China Sea issue. Wang Yi said, China expects Myanmar to play its role as the co-chair of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), advance the COC consultation process, and jointly build a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.

U Wunna Maung Lwin expressed deep concerns over Myanmar's economic difficulties, which were aggravated by the drastic changes in the current international situation. Wang Yi said, China is ready to strengthen coordination with Myanmar to help overcome difficulties. Wang Yi stressed, joint efforts should be made to cope with the negative spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis, oppose unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, and safeguard legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Rakhine State issue.

After the talks, the two sides witnessed the exchange of documents on bilateral cooperation in fields such as economic technology and agriculture, and jointly inaugurated the Consulate General of Myanmar in Chongqing.