NAY PYI TAW, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- China and Myanmar issued here Friday a joint statement on deepening bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperation.
At the invitation of President U Thein Sein of Myanmar, which holds the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang paid an official visit to Myanmar and attended a series of leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation from Nov. 12 to 14 in Nay Pyi Taw, exchanging views and reaching extensive consensuses with Myanmar leaders on bilateral ties as well as international and regional issues of common concern.
In the joint statement, the two sides reviewed the development of the China-Myanmar friendly relations and spoke highly of their traditional "Pauk-Phaw" friendship.
Facing profound and complex changes in regional and global situations, the two countries are sharing more and more common interests in development and security, they agreed.
Maintaining sustained, healthy and steady growth of bilateral relations not only conforms to the wishes and fundamental interests of the two peoples, but also contributes to peace and prosperity in the region.
While observing the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the two sides agreed to strengthen all-round cooperation in politics, economy, trade, security as well as military and people-to-people areas, on the basis of mutual trust and reciprocal win-win, to lift the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Myanmar to a higher level.
In the statement, China reaffirmed respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar, commended the progress in Myanmar's reform and development, and expressed its support for Myanmar's peace process and efforts to promote the country's stability and development.
Myanmar reiterated its commitment to the one-China policy, its position of recognizing the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government representing the whole China, and its firm support for China's stands on issues of Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang as well as for China's great cause of peaceful reunification.
The two sides decided to maintain close high-level exchanges and strengthen strategic communication. The two sides agreed to increase mutual visits and friendly cooperation at all levels between their parliaments, governments, judicial bodies and political parties, and maintain irregular vice-ministerial level consultations between the two foreign ministries.
In the statement, China and Myanmar expressed support for expanding friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries and law enforcement agencies to maintain regional security and stability.
They also condemned all forms of terrorist activities, and agreed to conduct the Mekong River basin law enforcement and security cooperation among China, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, strengthen collaboration in such areas as regional anti-terrorism, anti-drug and combating transnational crimes, enhance joint border management to safeguard security and stability on the borders.
Myanmar welcomed China's initiatives of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
Meanwhile, the sides agreed to carry forward the Silk Road spirit of peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefiting.
They agreed to boost pragmatic cooperation in the aspects of marine economy, interconnectivity, science, technology, environmental protection, society and people-to-people exchanges, and promote win-win cooperation and common development of China, Myanmar and other countries along the belt and the road.
Under the principles of equality and mutual benefit, the two sides agreed to advance practical business cooperation and common development for the sake of the two peoples. Both sides will continue to create a conducive environment for bilateral trade and investment.
They also agreed to resolve the problems in their economic cooperation and trade through consultations to promote sustainable growth of trade and economic cooperation.
The two sides decided to establish a China-Myanmar committee on agricultural cooperation. China will continue to support the development of Myanmar's rural areas and agriculture, and provide agricultural concessional loans to Myanmar so as to help improve the people's life in rural areas.
China will encourage its companies to participate in agricultural development in Myanmar and continuously help Myanmar train agrotechnical and managerial professionals. The two sides also agreed to speed up the construction of an agricultural demonstration center.
The statement said, to strengthen power infrastructure construction is a real need of the two countries' economic development, and the two sides enjoy a good foundation and broad prospects for electricity power cooperation.
The two countries will set up an intergovernmental power cooperation mechanism and support the cooperation in power projects between their companies according to the principles of fairness, transparency, safety and environmental protection.
It said the development of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor provides an important platform to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Myanmar, and unleash regional development potential.
The two sides agreed to enhance coordination and collaboration to advance initial steps for the development of the economic corridor, and maintain close communication and coordination with other relevant countries.
They agreed to take the opportunity of developing the economic corridor to push forward the China-Myanmar highway and other interconnectivity projects.
To enhance financial cooperation, the two sides agreed to explore the possibility of a mechanism on bilateral currency swap to help and facilitate trade and investment. Meanwhile, the two sides agreed to discuss further expanding cooperation to promote the development of Myanmar's financial sector.
The statement said enhancing people-to-people exchanges is of great significance to improve understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and the two sides agreed to further expand exchanges and cooperation in such fields as media, culture, education, sports, health and tourism, and promote exchange of visits between media organizations, academic institutions, social groups of friendship, and women and youth organizations.
China will continue to increase government scholarships for Myanmar and will support the country in hosting celebration events for the closing of the China-ASEAN Cultural Exchange Year at the end of 2014. The two sides will also hold a series of celebration events marking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations next year.
The two sides expressed support for their border provinces to make good use of their complementarity to enhance trade and economic cooperation and friendly exchanges in various forms, and promote economic development and people's well-being in the border areas.
According to the statement, both sides believed that they should work together to build a closer China-ASEAN community of shared destiny, and enhance cooperation under the ASEAN Plus China, Japan and South Korea, the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum and other mechanisms to jointly promote regional cooperation in East Asia.
The two sides agreed to have closer coordination and collaboration at the United Nations and other multilateral fora, on global issues concerning the pursuits and challenges of developing countries such as addressing climate change, natural disasters and communicable diseases.
