Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said that the economic cooperation between China and neighboring Myanmar has potential to tap for the economies of the two countries are compatible with the other.
Li, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, met with Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein Thursday amidst his on-going Myanmar visit.
"In recent years, China and Myanmar have carried out fruitful cooperation in energy, hydropower, infrastructure and other areas, bringing real benefits to the two peoples," he said.
The economic agreements inked during Li's visit have drawn wide attention. Among them, China and Myanmar agreed to build a crude oil and natural gas pipeline, which is designed to link a port city in Myanmar with Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, the neighboring province with Myanmar. In another pact, the two governments agreed to support the development of hydropower resources in Maykha, Malikha and up-stream of Ayeyawady- Myitsone river basins.
All these big projects "can lay solid foundation for future economy," Li said, adding he hoped the two sides "to continue explore new areas and new ways for common development."
Thein Sein congratulated Li for the important results achieved during the visit. "As friendly neighbors, Myanmar and China have always understood and supported the other for safeguarding state sovereignty and realizing national development," he said.
He said Myanmar "is willing to adopt active measures and earnestly implement the agreements already inked."
Li also briefed Thein Sein on China's stimulus measures taken after the financial crisis, for which Thein Sein expressed appreciation.
Myanmar is the second-leg of Li's four-nation tour which will also take him to Republic of Korea and Japan. He has already visited Australia.
(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2009)