China and Myanmar pledged in Nay Pyi Taw to further develop traditional friendship and deepen cooperation between the two countries.

While meeting with Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi first conveyed him the greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Myanmar has achieved the smooth transfer of the government and the Chinese leadership entrusted me with visiting this country at the first moment, highlighting the importance China attaches to the new government of Myanmar."

China hopes and believes that Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy will sincerely cooperate and join hands with all parties to open up a new future for the country, the Chinese foreign minister said.

China will always pursue good neighbourly policy toward Myanmar and is willing to develop the traditional friendly relations with Myanmar's new government, strengthen the high-level exchanges, boost political trust and further deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, wang said.

The two countries, which are joined by rivers and mountains and complementary in economy, are natural cooperation partners, and China, based on Myanmar's actual development requirements, is willing to dovetail its own development strategies with those of Myanmar and actively exploit the further cooperation in the sectors of people's livelihood, production capacity and infrastructure, the Chinese foreign minister said.

China is also willing to paly a positive role in pushing the peace talks in northern Myanmar in accordance with the country's desire, Wang added.

For his part, Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw asked Wang to convey his good wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

" Myanmar is highly appreciated that Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to me soon after I was elected as the president and the Chinese foreign minister visited Myanmar immediately after the formation of the new government which showed China's support for Myanmar's new government," the president said.

"The good proposals on boosting pragmatic cooperation between the two countries put forward by the Chinese foreign minister demonstrated China's willingness to further develop relations with Myanmar."

The new government of Myanmar now has a lot of work to do in developing economy and improving people's livelihood, and the two countries have a great potential for cooperation, the president said.

Myanmar's new government is willing to work together with China to promote good relations between the countries, deepen cooperation in all fields, strengthen communication and collaboration in regional and international affairs, he said.

Myanmar is also willing to continue cooperation with China so as to maintain peace and stability at the border areas between the two sides, the president added.

(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2016)