Myanmar president hopes better China-ASEAN relations

Myanmar President U Thein Sein said on Wednesday that the relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is experiencing a good time now, hoping that the China-ASEAN strategic cooperation partnership will be further improved.

U Thein Sein made the remarks during a joint interview in Nay Pyi Taw with Xinhua and a film shooting group of documentary for the 10th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Strategic Cooperation.

Noting that this year is the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN strategic cooperation partnership, U Thein Sein said it marks a special year for both China and ASEAN.

"Myanmar will undertake alternate chair of ASEAN in 2014. At present, the relations between China and ASEAN are good. It will be better in the future. I hope such strategic cooperation partnership will be better and better," he said.

Touching on China-Myanmar relations, U Thein Sein said Myanmar and China are friendly neighbors with long standing friendship between the two peoples.

"At present, the two countries' relations have raised from ' paukphaw' (fraternal) relations to comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership. When Myanmar meets with difficulties, China renders assistance to Myanmar, standing by the side of Myanmar," he said.

U Thein Sein also noted that China is Myanmar's largest trade partner. Myanmar, sharing a boundary of over 2,000 kilometers with China's Yunnan Province, has not only normal trade but also border trade with China.

Noting that not long before, the two countries signed an action plan on comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership, he believes trade between the two countries will expand with more investment and better economic ties.

U Thein Sein especially stressed at the end of the interview that at present, Myanmar-China relations are good, saying that it will be even better in the future.

He hopes that not only his generation, but also the future generations would continuously consolidate and develop the Myanmar- China relations.