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MYANMAR TIMES, May 2-8, 2005 ‘We’re like brothers, sisters’, says Hu
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (R) greets chairman of the SPDC, Senior General Than Shwe (L) in a VIP room during the Asia-Africa Summit on 23 April. The meeting took place on April 23 on the sidelines of a summit held in the Indonesian capital as part of events marking the golden jubilee of the historic Asian-African summit in Bandung, which led to the emergence of the Non-Aligned Movement. The events, attended by nearly 50 heads of state and government and about 60 special envoys from Asia and Africa, also included a ceremony in Bandung, about 110 kilometres southeast of Jakarta, on April 24 at which the leaders signed a pact to boost trade and alleviate poverty. China’s state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Mr Hu as saying at his meeting with Senior General Than Shwe that the relationship between the two countries was as close as that of brothers and sisters. The relationship had withstood the test of changes in the international and domestic situations since the two sides established diplomatic relations 55 years ago, Xinhua quoted Mr Hu as saying. It had been an important part of China’s foreign policy to maintain friendly ties with Myanmar, Mr Hu said. “We will work with our friends in Myanmar to carry on the traditional friendship and bring our bilateral relationship to a new high,” he said. Mr Hu said the two countries had conducted fruitful cooperation in agriculture, human resources development, natural resources development and infrastructure projects. He proposed that the two countries explore new ways and means to expand economic cooperation and trade. China would provide assistance to Myanmar for economic development. Xinhua quoted Senior General Than Shwe as telling Mr Hu that the Myanmar people were grateful of China’s assistance and support. Senior General Than Shwe said Myanmar had increased opportunities for investment and he hoped more Chinese firms would invest in the country. Senior General Than Shwe also held separate meetings on April 23 with the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, and the Indonesian President, Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who co-chaired the anniversary events with the South African President, Mr Thabo Mbeki. In his meeting with Mr Annan, Senior General Than Shwe outlined the progress in implementing the seven-point road map for a transition to democracy unveiled by the government in August 2003. Senior General Than Shwe said a National Convention was being held to draft a constitution based on the basic principles agreed at the convention. The draft constitution would be put to a national referendum for approval once it was completed, the New Light of Myanmar quoted him as saying at the meeting. Senior General Than Shwe said the first session of the convention resumed on May 17 last year and concluded on July 19 and was attended by more than 1000 delegates, of whom 60 per cent were members of the national races. The second session adjourned on March 31 after six weeks of deliberations and the third session would reconvene by the end of the year, he said. Senior-General Than Shwe said the State Peace and Development Council was rebuilding a nation that lagged behind in development and the government was endeavouring to develop the political, economic, education and health sectors. The SPDC Chairman also extended an invitation for Mr Annan to visit Myanmar. President Yudhoyono discussed the development of democracy in Indonesia and his readiness to share its experiences, a spokesman for the Indonesian president, Mr Dino Pati Jalal, said after the meeting. He said President Yudhoyono had accepted an invitation from Senior General Than Shwe to visit Myanmar, though no date was mentioned. |
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