Xi voices firm support for Myanmar

'Pauk-phaw' amity still holds profound significance today

President Xi Jinping meets on Tuesday with President of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing, who is on a five-day state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China stands ready to work with Myanmar to deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation and achieve more results in building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, in order to deliver more benefits to the two peoples and contribute more to regional peace and development.

Xi made the remarks during talks in Beijing with Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing, who is on a five-day state visit to China — his first since assuming the presidency in April.

Noting Min Aung Hlaing's longstanding commitment to friendship with China, Xi said that they met twice last year, when they had in-depth exchanges on issues of strategic importance that bear on the direction of bilateral relations.

China and Myanmar enjoy a deep "pauk-phaw" (fraternal) friendship, Xi said, adding that over the 76 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two neighbors have stood together through thick and thin, helped each other and jointly advocated and practiced the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Their relationship has set a fine example of equality and mutually beneficial cooperation between the countries, he added.

Xi also said that China places relations with Myanmar in an important position in its neighborhood diplomacy and is committed to the principle of noninterference in internal affairs, adding that China's policy of friendship toward Myanmar is for all the people of Myanmar.

He voiced China's firm support for Myanmar in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for Myanmar's new government in coordinating development and security and pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and supported by its people.

Xi emphasized that China, a neighbor with whom Myanmar shares the longest border, is a trustworthy friend and partner, and he urged the two sides to remain strategically clear-headed and focused, and enhance solidarity and coordination amid a turbulent and changing international landscape.

As this year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, Xi said that China stands ready to share development experience with Myanmar and jointly build a China-Myanmar community with a shared future featuring political friendship and mutual trust, mutually beneficial development, coordinated and mutually reinforcing security, and integrated and mutually enriching exchanges.

Describing the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor as a flagship project of Belt and Road cooperation, Xi called on both sides to steadily advance key projects on the basis of ensuring security, in order to help Myanmar grow its economy and improve livelihoods.

China is ready to step up support for Myanmar's post-earthquake reconstruction and implement more "small yet smart" assistance projects, Xi said. He urged the two countries to continue cracking down on online gambling, telecom fraud, drug trafficking and other criminal activities to safeguard the interests and security of the two peoples.

Xi also expressed China's support for all parties in Myanmar in pursuing peace and reconciliation through peace talks and realizing long-term peace and stability in northern Myanmar, saying this serves the fundamental and long-term interests of Myanmar and its people.

Min Aung Hlaing expressed gratitude for China's long-standing selfless support for Myanmar's development, stability, peace and reconciliation, and reaffirmed Myanmar's firm commitment to the one-China principle.

Myanmar's new government is making every effort to advance domestic peace and development, he said, adding that his country looks forward to strengthening all-around cooperation with China, jointly building the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor and elevating trade and investment.

He pledged that Myanmar will make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese enterprises and personnel in the country, and will work closely with China to combat online gambling and telecom fraud.

He also voiced full support for the four global initiatives proposed by Xi, and expressed readiness to strengthen multilateral communication and coordination with China.

Following the talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in transportation, livelihoods and other areas.

Premier Li Qiang also met with Min Aung Hlaing on Tuesday.

Du Lan, an associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said the visit comes at a crucial time as Myanmar works to restore development and stabilize its domestic situation.

"It reflects the strong willingness of Myanmar's new government to deepen ties with China, as well as the strategic resilience of China-Myanmar relations," she said.

She said that China, which is Myanmar's largest trading partner for many years and an important source of investment, has cooperated with Myanmar in infrastructure, energy, minerals and other fields, adding that such cooperation helps to address bottlenecks in funding, technology and infrastructure.

Bilateral trade reached $19.4 billion in 2025, up 19.1 percent year-on-year, according to China's Foreign Ministry. After a strong earthquake struck Myanmar last year, China announced assistance totaling 1.1 billion yuan ($163 million) to support disaster relief and reconstruction.

Zhou Fangyin, a professor at Sun Yat-sen University's School of International Relations, said stronger China-Myanmar relations will help prevent regional conflicts from spilling over, improve local livelihoods and promote peace through development.

At a time when geopolitical shocks are intensifying in many parts of the world, peace and stability in East Asia have not come easily and should be all the more cherished, Zhou said.