2016年CRI Chinese FM Pledges Further Cement Sino-Myanmar Ties（在线收听）

Wang has said his visit to Myanmar days after the new government took office highlights the fraternal friendship between the two neighbors.

He said China-Myanmar relations are now at a new historical starting point.

"I've come to send out a very clear signal to the international community that China is pleased to stand by Myanmar and continue to be a good neighbor, a good friend and a good partner of Myanmar after it has opened a new page in its annals."

Wang Yi says China stands ready to join hands with the new Myanmar government to deepen political trust and expand cooperation so as to open up a new chapter for bilateral relations.

The Chinese foreign minister expressed his hope that the two sides would strengthen high-level and inter-party exchanges and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.

He also stressed that China's policy toward Myanmar would not be affected by the change of domestic situation in the country.

Wang Yi also called on Chinese enterprises in Myanmar to perform their social responsibilities in a bid to boost more economic and trade cooperation between firms from both sides.

"It is the social responsibilities of Chinese enterprises to respect Myanmar's social customs and conventions, protect the local ecology and environment and provide greater service to the public. I believe that the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Myanmar is sure to gain greater development and bring more benefits to the Myanmar people in the new period."

The Chinese diplomat says that on the basis of respecting Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity, China stands ready to play a conducive role in Myanmar's national reconciliation.

For her part, Suu Kyi says the two nations are neighbors whose interests are inter-linked, and that China's continued support to Myanmar is of great significance.

She expressed her country's willingness to participate in international cooperation.

"According to the foreign policy of our government, we want to cooperate peacefully with the world. We will cooperate for peace and human development."

She added that the new Myanmar government is ready to work with China to expand high-level exchanges and economic cooperation, so as to lift bilateral ties to a new height.

Xu Liping, a Southeast Asian studies researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, sees greater potential for bilateral cooperation between the two sides.

"Under the new Myanmar government, the China-Myanmar relationship could become more pragmatic and more potential can be seen for the development of bilateral cooperation, which covers a variety of areas including infrastructure construction, cross-border economy, production capacity as well as agriculture."

Wang Yi is the first Chinese foreign minister to visit Myanmar since the Southeast Asian country's new government was sworn in last week.

For CRI, I'm Xie Cheng.