Chinese President Xi Jinping ended a two-day state visit to Myanmar on Saturday after attending the signing of a raft of agreements buttressing bilateral relations and advancing Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, in which his host country is a key player.
The two sides exchanged memoranda of understanding, letters and protocols covering 33 projects in the fields of information, industry, agriculture, security and the resettlement of internally displaced people in Myanmar's war-torn Kachin State, which borders China.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping ended a two-day state visit to Myanmar on Saturday after attending the signing of a raft of agreements buttressing bilateral relations and advancing Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, in which his host country is a key player.
The most significant pact appeared to be a concession and shareholder's agreement for the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone on the Bay of Bengal. With a deep-water port, it is the terminus of the 1,700-kilometer- (1,055-mile-) long China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, a major link in Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative whose other end is in China's Yunnan province.
The Myanmar corridor provides China with a shortcut to the Indian Ocean, a major goal of Chinese strategic planners. An outlet to the Indian Ocean allows China's sizable oil and gas imports from the Persian Gulf to bypass going through the Strait of Malacca, and could conceivably serve a future military purpose.
Beijing provided a willing and able alternative as an investor, trading partner and weapons supplier.
Last month, a case charging Myanmar with genocide came before the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands.
But many of Myanmar's citizens have long harbored suspicions over the intentions of its big northern neighbor, and Suu Kyi and her ruling National League for Democracy party could face accusations of selling out the country as they face a general election later this year.
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, shake hands after the ceremony of signing a memorandum of understanding at the president house in Naypyitaw Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Nyein Chan NaingPool Photo via AP)
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, right, greets Chinese President Xi Jinping at president house in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Nyein Chan NaingPool Photo via AP)
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, center right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands after the ceremony of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at president house in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Nyein Chan NaingPool Photo via AP)
In this photo released by Office of the Commander in Chief of Defense Services, Myanmar's Army Commander Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, left, speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a hotel in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Office of the Commander in Chief of Defense Services via AP)
The agreements were signed after a morning meeting between Xi and Myanmar's leader, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, right, greets Chinese President Xi Jinping at president house in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Nyein Chan NaingPool Photo via AP)
The most significant pact appeared to be a concession and shareholder's agreement for the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone on the Bay of Bengal. With a deep-water port, it is the terminus of the 1,700-kilometer- (1,055-mile-) long China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, a major link in Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative whose other end is in China's Yunnan province.
Other agreements covered separate projects related to the corridor plan, which includes oil and gas pipelines, and road and rail projects from southern China through various parts of Myanmar to Kyaukphyu.
The Belt and Road Initiative aims to build a network of railroads, highways, ports and other infrastructure connecting China with other points in Asia, Europe and Africa.
In this Jan. 17, 2020, photo provided by Myanmar News Agency (MNA), Chinese President Xi Jinping, left in front row, Myanmar's President Win Myint, center, and Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, right, attend a ceremony to mark the Myanmar-China 70th Anniversary of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.(Myanmar News Agency via AP)
The Myanmar corridor provides China with a shortcut to the Indian Ocean, a major goal of Chinese strategic planners. An outlet to the Indian Ocean allows China's sizable oil and gas imports from the Persian Gulf to bypass going through the Strait of Malacca, and could conceivably serve a future military purpose.
Xi's visit nominally marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar. But it also firms up a relationship in which China exercises diplomatic and economic muscle to extend its influence in Southeast Asia.
The relationship follows the pattern established with Myanmar's previous, military-led governments, which were treated as pariahs and sanctioned by many Western nations because of their suppression of democracy and poor human rights records.
In this Jan. 17, 2020, photo provided by Myanmar News Agency (MNA), Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, Myanmar President Win Myint, second from left, and Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, third from left, attend a ceremony to mark the Myanmar-China 70th Anniversary of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.(Myanmar News Agency via AP)
Beijing provided a willing and able alternative as an investor, trading partner and weapons supplier.
Suu Kyi's freely elected government, which came to power in 2016, was originally applauded for the democratic and economic reforms it began to implement. But it now draws widespread condemnation over its human rights record.
It is in a similar position to its military predecessors as it faces possible Western economic sanctions over the brutal counterinsurgency campaign waged by its security forces that drove more than 700,000 members of the country's Muslim Rohingya minority to flee for safety in neighboring Bangladesh.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, attends the bilateral meeting with Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, not in picture, at president house in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Nyein Chan NaingPool Photo via AP)
Last month, a case charging Myanmar with genocide came before the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands.
China has defended Suu Kyi's government in forums such as the United Nations, and Myanmar has returned the favor by following Beijing's positions on issue such as China's claims over territory in the South China Sea.
China's backing goes beyond words, since as a top investor and trade partner with Myanmar it offer a safety net if Western nations do impose sanctions.
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, left, attends the bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the president house in Naypyitaw Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Nyein Chan NaingPool Photo via AP2
But many of Myanmar's citizens have long harbored suspicions over the intentions of its big northern neighbor, and Suu Kyi and her ruling National League for Democracy party could face accusations of selling out the country as they face a general election later this year.
Xi's arrival on Friday was greeted with dancing children and youths waving the national flags of both countries and cheering, "Long live China-Myanmar friendship" and "Health to President Xi."
As the Chinese leader departed for home Saturday afternoon, four Myanmar fighter jets gave his plane an escort.
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for a photo at president house in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Nyein Chan NaingPool Photo via AP)
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, shake hands after the ceremony of signing a memorandum of understanding at the president house in Naypyitaw Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Nyein Chan NaingPool Photo via AP)
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, right, greets Chinese President Xi Jinping at president house in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Nyein Chan NaingPool Photo via AP)
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, center right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands after the ceremony of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at president house in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Nyein Chan NaingPool Photo via AP)
In this photo released by Office of the Commander in Chief of Defense Services, Myanmar's Army Commander Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, left, speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a hotel in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Office of the Commander in Chief of Defense Services via AP)