Chinese FM lauds “smooth” elections in Myanmar
November 12, 2015, 5:40 am

Chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Aung San Suu Kyi (C) arrives to cast her vote during the general elections at a polling station in Yangon, Myanmar, Nov. 8, 2015 [Xinhua]

Chinese agency Xinhua quoted Wang telling Myanmar Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin in Jinghong City of southwest China’s Yunnan Province on Wednesday that China “is gratified that the significant election in Myanmar generally went smoothly”.

“As a good-will neighbor, China sincerely hopes to see a stable, harmonious, growing and united Myanmar, with various parties working together for the country’s development and exploring a development path that suits its national conditions,” said Wang.

During this process, China will continue to provide support and help to Myanmar, he said, vowing that China will not change its friendly policy towards Myanmar.

China will also not change the various measures to help Myanmar’s development, the foreign minister stressed.

Suu Kyi visited Beijing in June this year where she met the top Chinese leadership including President Xi Jinping.

China accounts for over 30 per cent of total foreign investments in Myanmar and Suu Kyi would be keen to boost her relationship with Beijing. Nearly 80 per cent of Myanmar’s revenue from the rice trade comes from exports to China.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party will claim victory on Thursday.

“We will respect and obey the decision of the electorate… We will work peacefully in the transfer… Congratulations … to the chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi and her party for gathering the support of the people,” said Ye Htut, Myanmar’s minister of information.

China has traditionally close ties with Myanmar, earlier called Burma.

China and Myanmar also share major energy and transport projects and thriving trade ties.

The Myanmar-China natural gas pipeline, China’s fourth strategic energy supply channel, was completed in October 2013.

The pipeline is expected to send 12 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually to Myanmar and southwest China, which will reduce coal consumption by 30.72 million tonnes per year.

The project is billed as one of energy-hungry China’s most important strategic investments.

China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), China’s top oil and gas producer, owns the pipelines.

It is part of the $2.5 billion Myanmar-China Oil and Gas Pipeline project, which also includes building a crude oil pipeline.

TBP and Agencies