Chinese president meets Myanmar parliament speaker

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Thura U Shwe Mann, speaker of Myanmar's Union Parliament and the House of Representatives, in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2014. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Thura U Shwe Mann, speaker of Myanmar's Union Parliament and the House of Representatives in Beijing, pledging to work with Myanmar for closer China-ASEAN cooperation.

Xi said during the meeting China supports Myanmar in playing a bigger role in the region and the world as the ASEAN rotating chair, noting that China is ready to maintain coordination with Myanmar to further strengthen China-ASEAN cooperation.

China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors and developing bilateral cooperation conforms to the fundamental interests of the two nations, Xi said.

He called the two sides to make firm determination to advance their comprehensive strategic cooperation, increase political trust and strengthen pragmatic cooperation in all fields.

China is deepening its reform in a comprehensive manner and Myanmar is actively advancing its reform as well as developing the economy, Xi said, asking for the two sides to step up economic cooperation and exchange experience.

Talking about party-to-party relations, Xi said the Communist Party of China is willing to increase contacts with Myanmar's Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), further exchange governance experience and promote cooperation on cadre training to improve governance capacity of both parties.

Thura U Shwe Mann said Myanmar attaches great importance to developing relations with China under the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and appreciates China's assistance to Myanmar on the international stage as well as the help for Myanmar's economic and social development.

China's success is an important opportunity for Myanmar, he said, noting that his country's government and parliament highly value China's further reform in a comprehensive way.

He said Myanmar will learn economic and social development experience from China and further promote friendly ties with China.