Jiang's visit boost to Yangon

Jiang's visit boost to Yangon

Associated Press, Yangon

China and Myanmar signed six pacts on economy and border security on Wednesday at the start of Chinese President Jiang Zemin's landmark visit, seen as a major boost to the military state's ruling junta.

Myanmar's top three generals including leader Gen. Than Shwe and hundreds of flag-waving children greeted Jiang and his more than 100-strong entourage at Yangon airport. He disembarked a special Air China flight from Beijing to a 21-gun salute.

Jiang and Than Shwe later held talks at the Parliament building in Yangon, officials said. Details were not disclosed.

Following the talks, representatives of the two countries signed six bilateral agreements including economic and technical cooperation, promotion and protection of investments, cooperation in security at border areas and cooperation in fisheries and environment, officials said.

Myanmar considers China as one of its closest allies, having depended on it heavily for trade, credit and weapons over the past decade.

According to Chinese statistics, bilateral trade totals US$600 million annually, making China Myanmar's third largest trading partner after Singapore and Thailand - though that official figure probably underestimates trade that goes unreported.

Jiang's visit signals China's intent to reassert its economic and strategic interests in Myanmar. Impoverished Myanmar offers China a potential path to the Indian Ocean, and could serve as a landbridge for trade between South and Southeast Asia.