Qin to visit Myanmar, attend SCO meeting in India

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang speaks at a news conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, March 7, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Published 3 May 2023

BEIJING / KUNMING - Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang will visit Myanmar and travel to India to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers' Meeting from May 2 to 5, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning announced Tuesday.

Qin's visit to Myanmar is aimed to further follow through on the outcomes of President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Myanmar in January 2020, deepen practical cooperation in such fields as economy and livelihood, and support Myanmar's efforts to maintain stability, revitalize the economy, improve people's lives, and realize sustainable development, according to foreign ministry spokesperson's remarks in a statement.

The upcoming SCO Foreign Ministers' Meeting will be held on May 4 and 5 in Panaji, the capital of Goa, India. At the meeting, Qin will exchange views with other SCO member states' foreign ministers on the international and regional situation and SCO cooperation in various fields, among other topics, to make full preparation for this year's SCO summit, the statement said.

Also on Tuesday, Qin called for efforts to maintain stability in the China-Myanmar border area and promote friendly cooperation between the two countries.

Qin made the remarks during an inspection tour in the China-Myanmar border area in southwest China's Yunnan province.

Yunnan is situated at the forefront of Myanmar-related affairs, and therefore plays a unique role in advancing China-Myanmar relations, Qin said.

He urged efforts to maintain the clarity of the boundary line and stability of the border area, as well as taking strict action against cross-border crimes.

Calling for coordination between frontier management, cross-border trade and bilateral relations, Qin stressed the need to promote regular cross-border trade and people-to-people exchanges, keep as many ports of entry open as possible, and advance the building of the cross-border economic cooperation zone and the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.

Qin also called on Yunnan to leverage its unique advantage to effectively handle work concerning foreign affairs at the subnational level, in a bid to uphold peace and tranquility in the border area and the overall situation of China-Myanmar friendship.