Vice premier says SEA Games to end with success

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong said in Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday that she was delighted to attend the opening ceremony of the 27th Southeast Asian Nations (SEA) Games in Myanmar and she believed that the grand regional event would end successfully and splendidly.

Liu made the remarks when meeting with Myanmar Vice President Sai Mauk Kham in Nay Pyi Taw.

Liu said China has maintained a good-neighborly and friendly policy and is making efforts to benefit neighboring countries through its own development.

China and Myanmar have shared interests and a common destiny, and the two sides should keep to the right direction of the bilateral relations and ensure its sustained and steady development from a strategic and long-term perspective, she said.

Liu said China is willing to maintain exchange of high profile visits and strengthen the exchange of experiences in governing a state to enhance political mutual trust with Myanmar.

China is also willing to boost the China-Myanmar friendly cooperation and push for progresses in major cooperation projects based on the principle of mutual benefit and full accommodation of each other's concerns, she said.

In light of Myanmar's assumption of the alternate chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014, Liu said China supports Myanmar to play a greater role in regional and international affairs and hopes that Myanmar will make contributions to enhance China-ASEAN ties.

Liu noted that the SEA Games and related events have displayed latest achievements from cultural cooperation between China and Myanmar, and the two sides should further promote cultural exchanges with a long-term perspective.

Vice President Sai said the attendance of the Chinese leader at the opening ceremony has reflected the Myanmar-China "paukphaw" ( fraternal) friendship and China's consistent assistance and support to Myanmar, to which Myanmar is deeply grateful.

He said Myanmar has appreciated China's continuous help with Myanmar's agricultural development, people's livelihood and poverty reduction despite changes in the country's domestic and external environment.

Myanmar hopes that the two countries would further strengthen practical cooperations as there is complementarity between China's capital and technology and the resources and labor force of Myanmar, he said.

Liu attended the opening ceremony of the 27th SEA Games, along with government leaders from host Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Brunei.