Burmese President Thein Sein’s plan to travel this month to the world’s
two most powerful countries—the United States and China—makes a deliberate
statement, say observers.
Thein Sein will first fly to
Beijing before embarking on a separate trip to the US to attend a meeting of
the United Nations General Assembly in New York during the last week of
September.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on
Friday, Zaw Htay, the director-general of the President’s Office, said they
will be “holding a meeting and that the dates are not yet set for the trips.”
Nevertheless, the weekly 7Days News Journal reported that Thein Sein will
travel to China next week.
Chan Tun, a prominent politician
and retired ambassador to Canada, China and North-Korea in 1970s, said, “the
move is needed to show to China that Burma still sustains the bilateral
relationship with its neighbor although the president has strengthened diplomatic
ties with the USA.”
“It is a welcoming move,” added
the 91-year-old. “As Burma is now building relationships with two powerful
countries, we have to try to build good relationships with both countries.”
Ahead of Thein Sein’s visit to
China, Beijing’s top legislator Wu Bangguo is visiting Burma as part of a
four-nation tour.
Wu, the chairman of the Standing
Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), met with both Burmese
parliamentary house speakers on Thursday and discussed ongoing collaborating on
energy projects.
During his discussion with the
Lower House Speaker Shwe Mann, Wu suggested a “closer China-Burma
relationship,” and called for “smooth advancement of large energy projects”
between the two countries as well as joint efforts for stability in border
regions, reported Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua.
Shwe Mann also promised to keep
working on the China-Burma oil and natural gas pipeline project, pay attention
to Mekong regional development, enhance the rule of law, and build a prolonged
relationship with its powerful neighbor, according Burmese state-run newspaper
The New Light of Myanmar.
Aung Kyaw Zaw, a political
analyst based at the Sino-Burmese border for almost three decades, said the
president’s trip could be used to discuss problematic energy projects which the
previous military regime signed with China.
China reportedly invited Thein
Sein for a visit several months ago in order to discuss joint ventures before
its leadership transition in coming months, said Aung Kyaw Zaw.
He added that China wishes to
communicate with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who will be traveling to
the US herself on Sunday, but they do not want to meet her until after Thein
Sein’s visit.
On the agenda for talks is the
Chinese-backed Myitsone hydropower dam project in war-torn Kachin State which
was suspended indefinitely by the Burmese president a year ago—prompting angry
remonstrations from Beijing.
Also on the agenda will be
Chinese concern over future joint projects, Burma’s current foreign policy and
finding a solution to border security. Due to fighting in northern Kachin
State, China has been affected economically as a major trade zone has had to
close, added Aung Kyaw Zaw.
China has many ongoing
investments in Burma including the controversial Letpadaung mountain range
copper mine, near Monywa in Sagaing Region, which is co-owned by the Chinese
Wan Bao Mining Company.
Farmer and activists have been
protesting over the past two months due to environmental destruction to the
region and nearby Chindwin River, one of the four main rivers in Burma, as well
as land confiscations, arbitrary detentions and forced relocations. However,
the Burmese authorities have backed the company so far.
This will be Thein Sein’s second
trip to China since he took office in March last year. His first visit was in
May 2011.
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Healthcare and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programmes. Many thanks for visiting www.yourvietnamexpert.com and/or contacting us at contact@yourvietnamexpert.com
No comments:
Post a Comment