Beijing: Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi was to meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang today in her first major foreign trip since becoming the country's de facto leader, with a suspended Beijing-backed dam project set to dominate talks.
Myanmar sees its giant neighbour -- and largest trading partner -- as its biggest foreign policy preoccupation.
Resumption of the $3.6 billion Myitsone dam will be a priority for China, while Suu Kyi seeks Beijing's cooperation for talks with armed groups operating near the countries' shared border, officials said.
Beijing was instrumental in shielding Myanmar's former junta rulers from international opprobrium while Suu Kyi languished for years under house arrest as a democracy activist.
At the time Myitsone was seen as emblematic of China's economic dominance over Myanmar. In 2011 a quasi-civilian government halted the project in a surprise move after local protests, and Beijing has been pressing for its resumption ever since.
"China definitely will discuss about (Myitsone) as it is their main interest," Kyaw Zeya, DG at Myanmar's ministry of foreign affairs told AFP.
Myanmar sees its giant neighbour -- and largest trading partner -- as its biggest foreign policy preoccupation.
Resumption of the $3.6 billion Myitsone dam will be a priority for China, while Suu Kyi seeks Beijing's cooperation for talks with armed groups operating near the countries' shared border, officials said.
At the time Myitsone was seen as emblematic of China's economic dominance over Myanmar. In 2011 a quasi-civilian government halted the project in a surprise move after local protests, and Beijing has been pressing for its resumption ever since.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi Being Used As "Human Shield", Son Fears Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi Moved To House Arrest Due To Heatwave No Bidders For Auction Of Aung San Suu Kyi's Myanmar Home: Report Mamata Banerjee's Sunday Ultimatum To CBI For Death Penalty In Rape-Murder Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Mpox Outbreak Could Soon Turn Into The Next Global Pandemic. Know More Deadly Mpox Variant On The Rise; Sweden, Pakistan Confirm 1st Cases "Failure Of State Machinery": High Court On Vandalism At Kolkata Hospital Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.