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Beijing will "pressingly" deliver COVID-19 vaccines to Myanmar to help its Asian neighbor control the pandemic, according to Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday.
Just on Sunday alone, Myanmar's Ministry of Health and Sports reported 555 more COVID-19 cases, bringing the tally to 130,604.
"I believe the friendship between China and Myanmar will deepen further through test of the COVID-19 pandemic," Wang told Myanmar President U Win Myint in Nay Pyi Taw, capital of Myanmar. The Chinese diplomat has just embarked on his six-day Southeast Asia tour, just a day after his Africa visit.
On his part, the Myanmar president first spoke highly of the relationship between the two countries. "Although in time of a global pandemic, [Wang] still came visit as one of the first [diplomats]," he said.
He also vowed to deepen the ties and is willing to cooperate with Beijing in sectors including COVID-19 vaccine, culture and tourism.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Myanmar President U Win Myint in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, January 11, 2021. /Chinese Foreign Ministry
Also on Monday, Wang met with Myanmar's State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi. During the meeting, Wang assured Suu Kyi of China's firm support in her country's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interest and called for joint efforts in strengthening bilateral ties.
Noting that he is the first foreign minister to visit Myanmar after the Southeast Asian country's general elections, Wang said his visit shows China attaches great importance to its ties with Myanmar.
China is willing to continue to support Myanmar to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang noted, and will provide it with a batch of anti-epidemic materials and COVID-19 vaccines.
Wang Yi (L) meets with Aung San Suu Kyi in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, January 11, 2021. /Chinese Foreign Ministry
Viewing the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) as the flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese foreign minister said China is also willing to speed up the construction of the western, northern, and eastern ends of the CMEC to promote an early implementation of the Kyaukpyu deep sea port, the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone and the New Yangon City.
China is ready to work with Myanmar to implement the five-year plan for economic and trade cooperation to boost Myanmar's development, he added.
Noting that Myanmar will assume the roles of the country coordinator of China-ASEAN relations and co-chair of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), Wang hoped the two countries could take this opportunity to push China-ASEAN relations to a higher level and promote the development of the LMC.
Wang also met with U Kyaw Tint Swe, minister of the State Counsellor's Office, the same day.
(With input from Xinhua)
