Border Trade with China
Individual Documents
Description:
"In the first visit by a Chinese government official to Naypyitaw since last month’s ceasefire between the regime and the Brotherhood Alliance of ethnic armed organizations, Yunnan Province Governor Wang Yubo met junta leader Min Aung Hlaing on Tuesday.
Wang, who is also the Chinese Communist Party’s deputy committee secretary for Yunnan Province, discussed the possibility of restoring border trade and the flow of goods between Myanmar and Yunnan.
The anti-regime offensive known as Operation 1027 has disrupted Myanmar’s vital border trade routes with China. Border trade through Chin Shwe Haw, Muse, Pansai, Monekoe and Jinsanjiao has been halted.
Amid pressure from China, the Brotherhood Alliance held talks with the regime and agreed a ceasefire on Jan. 11.
As part of the truce, the two sides agreed to reopen vital Myanmar-China trade routes over which the joint ethnic armies have taken control. The alliance also agreed not to seize any more regime camps or towns in northern Shan State, while the junta agreed to refrain from conducting air strikes and shelling in the area.
One month and 10 days after the fighting ceased in northern Shan State, the Yunnan governor came to ask Min Aung Hlaing to resume border trade.
The two also discussed direct kyat-yuan payments, which they said would facilitate trade; construction of a railroad to promote bilateral trade; and cooperation in various sectors including agriculture, electricity and energy, according to junta media.
On Sunday, Min Aung Hlaing attended a Chinese New Year celebration in Yangon with Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai.
At the event, Min Aung Hlaing called China a “good neighbor” and a “good friend” that had stood by Myanmar through successive periods. Min Aung Hlaing said he was deeply grateful to China and the Chinese people for taking the “correct position” on the international stage regarding the internal affairs of Myanmar.
Wang also met junta Commerce Minister Htun Ohn and called for cooperation to ensure smooth trade between the two neighbors.
With the exception of Muse, the Brotherhood Alliance has taken control of all border towns in northern Shan State crucial for border trade with China.
Meanwhile, some towns along the Mandalay-Muse highway including Kutkai and Hsenwi are also now controlled by ethnic armed organizations, which levy taxes on cargo trucks in parallel to the junta’s taxation system—a problem that observers say is difficult to resolve..."
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
Date of publication:
2024-02-21
Date of entry/update:
2024-02-21
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Individual Documents
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Description:
"The trade relationship between Myanmar and China continues to flourish despite the growing domestic instability in Myanmar.
Myanmar-China relations have often been described as ‘Pauk Phaw’—a fraternal relationship—owing to its political, economic, and diplomatic ties. The two countries share a 2129-km-long border and have deep historical and cultural ties. The relationship underwent a transformation post-1988 as the Western nations sanctioned Naypyidaw for human rights abuse and political instability due to the coup. It was during this time that Beijing became the largest trading partner of the Southeast Asian neighbour and to this date continues to be so.
While the dynamic relations between the two have witnessed several ups and downs in the past owing to the wariness of Myanmar authorities towards Chinese intent—be it weaponising ethnic groups, debt scares, or, unsustainable projects—the relationship has always maintained its strong course despite all odds. One significant factor in this is the steady economic ties that have grown in importance over the past two decades.
In recent years, China has become one of Myanmar’s largest trading partners. According to the Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar, the bilateral trade between April 2022 and half of January 2023 in the financial year 2022-2023, reached up to US$2159.412 million.
Myanmar conducts cross-border trade with China through border posts situated in Muse, Lweje, Chinshwehaw, Kampaiti, and The other border points namely the Lweje border . While the other two border points the Kampaiti border earned trade
Significant partner
. . Additionally, has helped expand the economic scope within Myanmar. The Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation comprising China, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar also, presented a forum to pool in each other’s strengths and fortify cooperation in trade and investment.
Since Myanmar opened its door to foreign investment in 1988, the approved Chinese investment amounted to 26 percent of total FDI in Myanmar till 2019. China has been investing consistently in physical infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). Several projects under the CMEC, for instance, the Mee Ling Gyaing LNG terminal, Kyaukphyu SEZ, deep seaport, upgrading of the Mandalay-Muse Road that will facilitate the Muse-Mandalay railway line are examples of Chinese economic interest within the nation.
China has been investing consistently in physical infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC).
Myanmar’s exports to China are primarily agricultural products, such as rice, beans, and sesame seeds. In 2019, agricultural exports accounted for 83 percent of Myanmar’s total exports to China. Myanmar is also exporting more minerals, such as jade and copper, to China. In contrast, China’s exports to Myanmar are primarily manufactured goods, such as machinery, electronics, and textiles.
The growing trade relationship between Myanmar and China has been driven by several factors. First, China’s demand for Myanmar’s natural resources has increased as its economy has grown. Myanmar is rich in natural resources such as oil, gas, timber, and minerals, and China has invested heavily in these sectors. Myanmar exports of pearls, precious stones, metals, and coins to China were US$12.31 million in 2021.
Second, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has played a significant role in increasing trade and investment between the two countries. Myanmar is a key part of the BRI, with several infrastructure projects underway, including the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). The CMEC includes a deep-sea port at Kyaukphyu, an industrial park, and a high-speed rail link between Kunming in China and Mandalay in Myanmar. Many of these projects are stated to be on track even post-coup.
Apart from connectivity routes, Chinese companies are now implementing many resource-sharing links whereby power projects including hydropower plants are being constructed in several locations. In October 2022, the US$180-million,135-MW power plant in the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was inaugurated.
Challenges
However, the trade relationship between Myanmar and China has not been without its challenges. One of the most significant challenges is the issue of trade imbalance. Myanmar has been running a large trade deficit with China for several years. Between 2022-2023 till mid- This trade imbalance is a concern for Myanmar, as it can make the country dependent on China for its imports and vulnerable to economic pressure.
Another challenge is the perception of the activists and the majority of the population in Myanmar that Chinese companies are exploiting the country’s natural resources without providing significant benefits to the local population. , which was suspended in 2011 due to public opposition. There in the past.
China has been criticised over the sustainability of its loans to developing countries, as well as its poor record in terms of generating occupations and adhering to ecological standards.
The debt scare aspect has been another element that economists have been wary about. China’s development model as observed in other nations often encompasses state-led infrastructure projects for which natural resources are required as a warranty. China has been criticised over the sustainability of its loans to developing countries, as well as its poor record in terms of generating occupations and adhering to ecological standards. There have been successive claims by different scholars that much of the Chinese lending to other countries is “hidden”. Prominent organisations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank, are serious concerns over transparency.
Post-coup, the conditions have deteriorated as the general public is indignant with the Chinese actions of continuing business as usual with the military regime as well as shielding it from international spectators. This has led to growing aggression over Chinese-led businesses for instance the vandalising of Chinese companies during 2021-2022.
It may be important to recall that Myanmar is not ignorant of the Chinese advances and has been careful in its earlier stances to balance Chinese trails within the region either by ruling against the projects like the Myitsone dam, negotiating proper deals, for instance, the cost of Kyaukphyu project was reduced by almost 80 percent and Myanmar’s share in the project was increased from 15 to 30 percent. It has also partnered with other players in the region like Japan and India.
However, the present coup creates more uncertainty in terms of the continuous people’s and ethnic armed group movements against the regime. Thus, the present regime in Myanmar will need to keep its balancing act intact as it opens its business with other partners and pursues its ambition to stay afloat amidst the harsh waters of protests..."
Source/publisher:
Observer Research Foundation
Date of publication:
2023-03-31
Date of entry/update:
2023-03-31
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Other Special Economic Zones, Border Trade with China
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Description:
"Myanmar’s trade with foreign countries through border gates reached over 8.6 billion U.S. dollars as of July 10 in present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Monday.
During the period, the country's export via border gates earned over 5.8 billion U.S. dollars while its import shared over 2.7 billion U.S. dollars.
According to the ministry’s figures, this fiscal year’s border trade increased by over 281 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of last fiscal year 2018-2019 when it recorded over 8.3 billion U.S. dollars.
Muse topped the list of border checkpoints with the most trade value of 3.8 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Heekhee with 1.6 billion U.S. dollars, the ministry’s figures said.
The country conducts border trade with neighboring China through Muse, Lweje, Kanpikete, Chinashwehaw and kengtung with Thailand via Tachilek, Myawady, Kawthoung, Myeik, Hteekhee, Mawtuang and Maese gates, with Bangladesh via Sittwe and Maungtaw and with India through Tamu and Reed border gates, respectively.
Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, marine products, minerals, forest products, manufacturing goods and others while capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods are imported to the country..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication:
2020-07-20
Date of entry/update:
2020-07-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China, Border Trade with Thailand, Burma's economic relations with China, Burma's economic relations with Thailand
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Sub-title:
A Chinese company is applying to conduct feasibility studies for a high-speed railway between Mandalay-Kyaukphyu, said U Nyi Nyi Swe, general manager of Myanma Railways.
Description:
"The railway is part of a larger railway project connecting Muse to Mandalay. A memorandum of understanding for the railway was signed between the Myanmar government and China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co Ltd (CREEG) on October 22, 2018.
“The Muse-Mandalay MoU includes applying for permission to conduct feasibility studies to build the railway from Mandalay to Kyaukphyu. The feasibility study takes two or three years,” U Nyi Nyi Swe said.
The Chinese want to connect Kyaukphyu in Rakhine, where they will be developing an industrial zone and deepsea port, with Kunming in China via the Muse border town by building Kunming-Muse-Kyaukphyu express railroad. The route will also connect Mandalay with Yangon.
U Ba Myint, managing director of Myanma Railways, said the project is expected to bring benefits in the form of increased border trade.
He said the 431-km Muse-Mandalay high-speed railroad project, which will be built for trains to run at speeds of up to 160 km per hour, will cost around US$8.9 billion to build.
The project is not expected to interfere with residents who live along the railway route, U Win Khant, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, said during a recent press conference..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-06-22
Date of entry/update:
2020-06-24
Grouping:
Individual Documents
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Sub-title:
Export through Lweje and Kampaiti borders to restart, having previously been confined to Muse border
Description:
"Trade restrictions between Myanmar and China are gradually being lifted, with Global New Light of Myanmar reporting the Lweje and Kampaiti borders have been reopened for export, after they were temporarily closed to avoid the risk of spreading Covid-19.
In the midst of the restrictions, the Muse border remained open for the export of watermelon, muskmelon, mango and plum, however it was inundated with growers wanting to gain access, which reportedly caused lengthy delays, reducing fruit quality and resulting in higher costs overall.
China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine has provided clearance for the export of mangosteen, rambutan and lychee to commence, in addition to existing exports.
Myanmar’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation has also sent information on tissue-culture bananas, limes, pineapples, avocados, and pomelos to China for trade access.
Asiafruit is now available to read on your phone or tablet via our new app. Download it today via the App Store or Google Play and receive a two-week free trial along with access to previous editions..."
Source/publisher:
"Fruitnet"
Date of publication:
2020-06-01
Date of entry/update:
2020-06-01
Grouping:
Individual Documents
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Description:
"The Myanmar and Chinese authorities say traders are incurring losses due to restrictions at border gates and that field visits will be used to attempt to resolve the issues.
Myanmar Trade Department Director General (DG) Min Min said, “Their Yunnan Province Commerce Department DG met with our Consul General in Kunming. They said that they would investigate this case through field visits. And also our ambassador to China said that they agreed to resolve this case through negotiations as soon as possible by meeting with the government departments concerned.”
Minister of Economy and Commerce Dr. Than Myint met Chinese ambassador Mr Chan Hia on May 21 through a video conference call to resolve the issue of great losses suffered by Myanmar traders due to traffic jams at border trade posts. Similarly Myanmar consul general in Kunming, China reportedly met Yunnan Province Economy and Commerce Department DG in an attempt to resolve this issue. Currently three border trade posts are open for trade operations on Sino-Myanmar border but the Chinese side does not allow Myanmar drivers to enter their country so that the Chinese drivers have to replace them in driving into their country which caused delays in trade activities and difficulties in goods flow into China..."
Source/publisher:
"Mizzima" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-05-24
Date of entry/update:
2020-05-24
Grouping:
Individual Documents
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Description:
"Myanmar is exported over 45,000 tons of rice and broken rice in second week of February and it is less than 3,000 tons in compared with last week export, according to Ministry of Commerce.
It exported US$1.071 million worth of about 3,900 tons of rice and US$0.298 million worth of about 1,250 tons of broken rice from border trade centers along Myanmar-China border from February 8 to 14.
Myanmar exported 2,700 tons of rice and 1,200 tons of broken rice from Muse 105-mile border trade center, about 620 tons of rice and 0.05 ton of broken rice from Chinshwehaw border trade center and about 520 tons of rice and 50 tons of broken rice from Lweje border trade center in that period.
It exported US$8.231 million worth of over 25,000 tons of rice and US$0.401 million worth of over 15,000 tons of broken rice from maritime trade in that period.
Myanmar exported about 15,000 tons of rice and over 1,000 tons of broken rice to Asia, 5,800 tons of rice and about 4,800 tons of broken rice to Africa and about 4,900 tons of rice and about 10,000 tons of broken rice to EU in that period..."
Source/publisher:
Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-02-27
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
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Description:
"Exports of watermelon and marine products on Myanmar-China border have declined by 209 million US dollars due to the spreading of coronoavirus (COVID-19), said Union Commerce Minister Dr. Than Myint, on 22 February.
“Till 14 February of 2018-2019 fiscal year, the total trade value reached 14.595 billion US dollars, up 2.147 billion US dollars compared with the same period this year. The export value increased by 1.053 billion US dollars. The border trade sees a decline due to the Chinese New Year holidays and the spreading of coronavirus,” he said.
“During the holidays from 23 January to 18 February, Myanmar-China border trade declined by 209 million US dollars—exports of 152 million US dollars and imports of 57 million US dollars, compared with the same period last year. It has an impact on water melon, sweet melon, perishable goods and marine products,” Dr. Than Myint continued.
As a measure to solve this problem, Yangon Region Government helps merchants to get the places for the sale of water melon and sweet melon in Yangon market, in cooperation with Yangon City Development Committee..."
Source/publisher:
Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-02-23
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-24
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
COVID-19 (Coronavirus), Border Trade with China, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma relations
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Sub-title:
Farm labourers and crab catchers are among the thousands of Myanmar facing hard times because of the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
Description:
"THE IMPACT on Myanmar of the coronavirus outbreak that began in neighbouring China late last year has hit border trade and tourism hard, and there were reports last week that the garment sector was also being affected by supply-chain disruptions.
As of February 17, Myanmar was monitoring eight people for symptoms of the Coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, the Ministry of Health and Sport said. Earlier suspected cases of this novel type of coronavirus, including some in which patients were held in quarantine, have been confirmed as negative. COVID-19, which is a relative of the SARS and MERS coronaviruses, currently lacks a specific medical treatment and a vaccine is still being developed.
China’s decision to close four border crossings at the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year to help contain the spread of the disease has sparked a sharp downturn in trade, with the agriculture, aquaculture and seafood sectors the worst affected.
The number of Chinese tourists has also slumped, partly because visa rules have been tightened while the outbreak remains uncontrolled and also because of airlines cancelling services..."
Source/publisher:
"Frontier Myanmar" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-02-19
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, COVID-19 (Coronavirus), China-Burma relations
Language:
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Sub-title:
China’s coronavirus epidemic is hitting Myanmar’s important manufacturing and tourism industries as well as disrupting border trade, but in the longer term the crisis could encourage more supply chain factories to relocate from its giant neighbour.
Description:
"The outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the central Chinese city of Wuhan came at the worst possible time for Myanmar’s tourism industry, with the peak season lasting from October to March.
The epidemic has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization and is having an economic impact well beyond China where economic growth is forecast by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) to fall to 5.4 percent from 5.9pc in 2020. Fitch Solutions Macro Research this month lowered its forecast for Myanmar’s real GDP growth for the financial year 2019-20 to 6.3pc from 6.5pc, down from an actual 6.8pc in 2018-19. It expects the slowdown in tourism activity to account for most of the impact as Chinese nationals accounted for nearly a third of over two million foreign tourists last year.
But the impact of the virus outbreak goes beyond a drop in Chinese travellers.
Crude oil prices have lost around US$10 per barrel since mid-January on coronavirus-related fears. China is the biggest oil importer and if economic activity slows further then analysts say benchmark oil prices could dip by another US$3-5 per barrel.
Oil and gas exports account for roughly half of Myanmar’s total export revenues and a drop in price will affect the government’s efforts to attract foreign investment in the upcoming bidding round. The energy ministry is expected to release 15 offshore and 18 onshore blocks to international bidders later this year.
The EIU’s global trade lead Nick Marro expects much of the economic shock to hit China in the first quarter, which he says will have consequences for ASEAN over that same period..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-02-14
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-15
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations, Tuberculosis and other lung/respiratory tract diseases
Language:
more
Topic:
cattle, trade, Ministry of Commerce, exports, livestock, farming, Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation, China, taxation, corruption
Sub-title:
Exports of animal products have risen dramatically since the government lifted a ban on the export of live cattle and buffalo in October 2017, but new regulations have taken some of the shine off the trade.
Topic:
cattle, trade, Ministry of Commerce, exports, livestock, farming, Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation, China, taxation, corruption
Description:
"CATTLE AND buffalo exporters enjoyed a profitable year in 2018, after the Ministry of Commerce lifted a ban on live exports the previous October, but regulations introduced in 2019 have taken the shine off the trade.
The lifting of the ban saw more than 260 companies apply for export permits by mid-2019, of which more than 90 were approved, and exports of animal products rose from just $10.627 million in the 2016-17 fiscal year to $366.359 million in 2018-19, Ministry of Commerce data shows. China is the largest importer of cattle and buffaloes from Myanmar, followed by Thailand.
But traders grumble about delays in issuing the licences they need to send livestock across borders and say the government could do more to support live exports by simplifying regulations. Other challenges facing the cattle export industry, say livestock specialists, include the need to upgrade the quality of livestock.
Most of the nation’s cattle farms are in Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway regions. Many of the farms are small plots owned by traders, who do not breed livestock but buy on the domestic market and keep the animals until they can be exported at times of high demand. Support more independent journalism like this. Sign up to be a Frontier member.
Frontier met cattle traders at Latpan village, in Mandalay Region’s Kyaukse Township, who said they were unhappy at not being able to get export licences in 2019..."
Source/publisher:
"Frontier Myanmar" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-02-14
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-14
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China, Border Trade - general, Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Smallholder farming and farmers in Burma/Myanmar, Illegal Economy - general
Language:
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Sub-title:
Government looking to drum up trade with Singapore and Laos as exports to China dry up
Description:
"Myanmar is losing the equivalent of $16 million a day in border trade with China because of the coronavirus outbreak, a senior official from the commerce ministry has said.
Exports to China dropped by $160m between January 27 and February 5 at border trade areas in Shan and Kachin states, commerce secretary Khin Maung Lwin told Myanmar Now.
Trade has dried up because buyers inside China are unable to reach the border due to travel restrictions aimed at curbing the virus, said Dr Thet Lwin Oo, Director of the Myanmar International Trade Center.
Meanwhile Myanmar traders are having their Chinese visas denied, said Sein Win Hlaing, chairman of the Myanmar Rice Producers Association.
Trade at the border is worth over $500 million a month, government figures show.
Between October and January, China imported $1.4 billion worth of goods from Myanmar and exported $680 million worth.
Khin Maung Lwin said that as there were now no buyers on the Chinese side, the ministry is looking for new export markets..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Now" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-02-08
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma relations, Tuberculosis and other lung/respiratory tract diseases, Public Health
Language:
more
Topic:
Myanmar , Crab , Exports , China , Virus
Topic:
Myanmar , Crab , Exports , China , Virus
Description:
"Thousands of workers from crab wholesale centres from the Labutta township are now out of their jobs after China suspended its crab imports from Myanmar due to the spread of novel coronavirus in China.
The suspension of crab exports to China has huge impacts on workers and the crab industry in the township. Crab is one of the major exports of Labutta Township, and it may have an impact on those involved in the whole industry.
The price of crab declined to around Ks5,000 (RM14) per kilo from around Ks15,000 (RM43)per kilo after China stopped importing crabs from Myanmar.
U Win Naing, Chair of the Labutta Crab Entrepreneurs Association said: “Due to the closure of border gates, we cannot ship crabs to China. We mainly export crabs to China. There are 130 crab wholesale centres in Labutta.”
Labutta township exports more than ten tonnes of crabs to China every day. Most people in the rural areas rely only on crab fishing. - Eleven Media Group/Asia News Network..."
Source/publisher:
"The Star Online" (Selangor)
Date of publication:
2020-02-08
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Tuberculosis and other lung/respiratory tract diseases, Public Health, Border Trade with China, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Sub-title:
The coronavirus outbreak in China has caused trade between Myanmar and its neighbor to slow to a trickle, trade officials say.
Description:
"The clearest example of this is the plunge in the volume of watermelons from Myanmar that are crossing the border to the east. “About 600 truckloads of Myanmar’s watermelons used to cross the border a day in the Muse border trade area in Shan State. Since the outbreak earlier this year, the number of loads has plunged to about 30, a reduction of 95 percent,” said U Naing Win, chair of the Myanmar Melon Producers and Exporters Association.
China is one of Myanmar’s largest trade partners, with goods flowing between both countries across land routes and by sea. The Chinese government’s restrictions on travel between provinces in the country that are part of efforts to curb the spread of the virus is causing severe problems at border trade areas, U Naing Win added. “As long as this health emergency continues, losses will continue. It is important to combat this disease so markets can return to normal as soon as possible. If not, the damage will be huge. A continued reduction in business volume of 95pc is just unsustainable,” he said.
“The slowing of watermelon sales, one of main export commodities in the Muse area, started on January 13. In the past, there was more demand during Chinese New Year period and a truckload of watermelons was worth from K8 million to K13 million, but prices have now dropped by between 50pc to 70pc ” said U Sai Khin Maung, vice chair of the Muse Fruit Commodity Brokers House.
Traders in Muse say that the Chinese government’s travel restrictions are impeding the flow of goods.
This is being compounded by new restrictions on oversea trade routes as well, said Ministry of Commerce Assistant Secretary U Khin Maung Lwin.
“Import and export licence applications for oversea trade with China were stopped this week, so trade seems to be slowing to a crawl,” U Khin Maung Lwin said..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-02-07
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-07
Grouping:
Individual Documents
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Sub-title:
Myanmar wants to expand its exports to other markets to hedge against a potential dip in demand from China, where a new respiratory virus has infected more than 14,000 people and killed more than 300, mostly from Hubei province, where illnesses from the new type of coronavirus were first detected in the city of Wuhan in December.
Description:
"China is now Myanmar’s largest export market. Already, trading of melons has come to a standstill and prices have halved, said U Naing Win, chair of the Myanmar Watermelon and Muskmelon Producers and Exporters Association. As such, preparations are being made for Myanmar to send more goods to other markets to avoid any volatility in demand from China.
“As the market has just reopened after the Chinese New Year break, we can’t tell the exact extent of the impact the Wuhan virus has on the export market yet. But we are working on seeking new border markets to export our goods in the event that the spread of the virus continues,” U Aung Htoo, Deputy Minister for Commerce, said in a press briefing on the drafting of the National Export Strategy 2020-2025 on January 31. Plans have also been made to export more goods via air and maritime routes to offset slower trade at the border.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, China has stopped importing melons from Myanmar and stockpiles of fruit are being held in Yunnan province. Around 80 percent of total border trade takes place at the Muse trade gate on the Myanmar-China border..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-02-03
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Tuberculosis and other lung/respiratory tract diseases, Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"Trade volume between Myanmar and China is reached to US$1.337 billion within two months of this fiscal year and Myanmar had a trade surplus as it imported US$551 million worth of products from China, according to Ministry of Commerce.
Myanmar exported over US$785 million worth of products to China in that period.
Both countries are opened business centers and implemented to boost border trade and investments, according to the ministry.
The ministry will sign MoUs with the China to establish border economic cooperation zones and will invite tender for Expression of Interest (EOI) for local businessmen to participate to work in the zones, said Dr Than Myint, Union Minister for Commerce.
“We will call for EOI to develop border economic cooperation zones in Muse, Nantkhan, Kanpiketie, Laukkai and Chinshwehaw,” said the minister..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-01-28
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
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Description:
"Shan fruit wholesalers in Muse on the Shan State-China border have been asked to temporarily stop exports to Myanmar’s northern neighbour as the coronavirus spreads, according to Shan News.
Sai Khin Maung, chairperson of the local Wholesalers’ Association, said that it is difficult to send vehicles across the border with goods to sell, the news agency said.
“Chinese officials have strictly tightened security at the border entrance gates. Transportation is really difficult at this moment,” he told Shan News. China closed hotels and casinos in Ruili town, which is opposite Muse in Yunnan Province, on January 26 with the aim of containing the coronavirus..."
Source/publisher:
"Mizzima" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-02-02
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"In 1950, Myanmar established diplomatic ties with China. But the bilateral economic relations of the friendly neighbors date back to the pre-Christian era and have flourished recently.
As an old Chinese saying goes, "A good neighbor is better than a far-dwelling relative."
Booming bilateral trade
China is the largest trading partner as well as one of the most important sources of investment for Myanmar. Official data shows that as of July in 2019, China's cumulative investment in Myanmar accounted for over 25 percent of Myanmar's total foreign investment.
Centuries ago, there was a land route between China, Myanmar and India, the southwestern Silk Road. And for that long, China mainly exported silk, porcelain, tea and metals to Myanmar while importing shells as currency, spices, wood and jade from its neighbor..."
Source/publisher:
"China Global Television Network (CGTN)" (China)
Date of publication:
2020-01-14
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-14
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Myanmar next week to boost ties and push investment projects, in a show of support for Aung San Suu Kyi’s government as it faces global condemnation over its treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority.
Xi will begin the two-day trip on January 17, according to Luo Zhaohui, China’s vice-foreign minister. It will be the first state visit to Myanmar by a Chinese president since Jiang Zemin’s trip in 2001.
Luo said in a briefing on Friday that the countries would seek close economic and trade cooperation through Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative – Xi’s sprawling infrastructure and investment scheme spanning Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond. Chinese observers said Xi’s trip showed the importance of relations with Myanmar, which is strategically located and stands on the frontline of China’s geopolitical rivalry with the United States and other powers in the Asia-Pacific, such as India and Japan.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of China’s official ties with three Asian nations – Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia. Xu Liping, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that Xi had chosen to go to Myanmar for his first overseas trip of the year, rather than the other two countries, both of which were at odds with Beijing over the South China Sea..."
Source/publisher:
"South China Morning Post" (Hong Kong)
Date of publication:
2020-01-10
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Other Special Economic Zones, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations, “One Belt, One Road” initiative
Language:
more
Description:
"During one month of this fiscal year, the total trade value between Myanmar and China exceeded one billion US dollars with China’s imports reaching nearly 550 million US dollars, according to the Commerce Ministry.
In October of 2019-2020 FY, the total trade value between Myanmar and China amounted to 1006.768 million US dollars—456.869 million US dollars in export and 549.899 million US dollars in import.
Myanmar and China can promote trade and promotion through the establishment of business centers on both sides.
Union Minister for Commerce Dr. Than Myint said, “Myanmar and China will sign the MoU on the establishment of China-Myanmar border economic cooperation zones. The EOI will be invited for the projects for local entrepreneurs after the MoU signing. We basically plan to build it at Muse-Namkham border in Myanmar side. China wants to implement it at Muse border. We also plan to Kanpiketi in Kachin State and Hteinchone in China. Another proposed places are Laukkai, Linchan and Chinshwehaw. We have chosen three places for the project.”
Myanmar has already sent its view on the MoU signing for the economic zone project to China. The MoU can be signed after Myanmar receives the reply letter from China..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-01-08
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"Myanmar exported over 9,000 tons of rice worth over US$2 million within two weeks, from December 14 to 20, through border trade centers in China and Thailand borders, announced the Ministry of Commerce.
It exported over 5,500 tons of rice from Muse 105 mile border trade center, about 400 tons of rice from the Chinshwehaw border trade center, over 1,300 tons of rice from the Lweje border trade center and about 2,000 tons of rice from Techilek border trade center.
Myanmar also exported over 40,000 tons of rice worth over US$12.5 million from December 15 to 21 via maritime trade routes. It exported about 16,000 tons of rice to Asia countries, about 5,700 tons of rice to EU countries and over 20,000 tons of rice to African countries.
Myanmar earned over US$65 million from over 220,000 tons of rice and broken rice export about one month of this fiscal year and it earned US$21 million more in compared with the same period in the last fiscal year, said Assistant Secretary Khin Maung Lwin of the ministry..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2019-01-03
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China, Border Trade with Thailand, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy
Language:
more
Description:
" From traditional marionettes and wood carvings to handmade carpets depicting Bagan's renowned pagodas and stupas, Myanmar exhibitor Thet Thet Naing was more than proud to showcase her country's best handicrafts at a border trade fair in the southwestern Chinese city of Ruili.
Thet Thet Naing, a trade promotion officer from the Yadanarbon Trade Center in Mandalay, said she was attending the ongoing 18th China-Myanmar Border Economic and Trade Fair for the second time, and has brought more types of traditional handicrafts to impress Chinese visitors.
"We've received many orders for our customized carpets from Chinese hotels thanks to the fair in Ruili," she said. "I hope this year's fair will let more Chinese visitors and exhibitors know about Myanmar's cultural products."
Thet Thet Naing is among a large number of domestic and overseas exhibitors who have flocked to the fair to display more than 2,000 kinds of items at over 500 booths, representing a record high in the event's history. This year's fair runs from Dec. 10 to 16.
So far, a total of 24 projects with investment totaling nearly 20 billion yuan (2.8 billion U.S. dollars) have been signed at the fair. The projects cover tourism, agriculture, logistics, wood processing and other areas..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-12-14
Date of entry/update:
2019-12-15
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"The 18th China-Myanmar Border Economic and Trade Fair opened in the border city of Ruili in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Tuesday.
More than 500 booths will display items including electronics, agricultural products, food, garments, household appliances and agricultural machinery during the seven-day event.
Besides China and Myanmar, the fair has attracted exhibitors from nine other countries including Thailand, Vietnam and Russia.
Sideline activities including conferences and project signings will also be held to promote bilateral cooperation between China and Myanmar.
Yang Zhenwang, one of the exhibitors and the general manager of a Chinese agricultural machinery company, said the fair provided a platform to showcase their products and find overseas buyers..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-12-10
Date of entry/update:
2019-12-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"China and Myanmar pledged on Saturday to strengthen communication and high-level exchanges, according to a meeting held between Myanmar's State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi and visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Wang said in light of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations next year, China and Myanmar should hold a series of celebrations, plan and prepare for high-level exchanges, comprehensively push forward cooperation in areas including economy, trade, people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Wang said China and Myanmar should also carry forward the "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship, deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and jointly build a community of shared future.
Wang said China is willing to promote China-Myanmar Economic Corridor from concept and plan into substantial implementation and build it into a flagship program of joint construction of the Belt and Road between the two countries.
Wang said infrastructure connectivity is framework of China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and the two sides should cooperate on pressing forward projects including Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone and border economic cooperation zones.
Wang stressed that China always upholds democratization of international relations, advocates equality among countries, opposes interference in internal affairs of other countries, and disapproves of complicating bilateral issues by involving more parties..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-12-08
Date of entry/update:
2019-12-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, Chinese investment, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"Myanmar President U Win Myint on Saturday met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Naypyidaw, the country's capital, with both sides pledging to strengthen high-level exchanges to push bilateral ties to a new high.
The Myanmar president expressed gratitude to China for its long-term support for Myanmar's sovereignty, dignity and socio-economic development.
He hoped that both sides will take the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year as an opportunity to consolidate and deepen mutual political trust, speed up the joint construction of the Belt and Road, comprehensively press forward the building of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor. The president also hope to expand cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, education, health, and enhance cooperation and coordination in regional and international issues so as to further advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. He also hoped that China would continue to support Myanmar in pressing forward the ongoing national reconciliation and peace process..."
Source/publisher:
"China Global Television Network (CGTN)" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-12-08
Date of entry/update:
2019-12-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
China-Burma relations, Other Special Economic Zones, Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, “One Belt, One Road” initiative
Language:
more
Description:
"A China Agritech and Engineering Machinery Brand Show kicked off in Myanmar's Yangon Friday.
Sponsored by the China's Ministry of Commerce, the three-day show will last until Sunday.
The show occupies 3,000 square meters' space with 76 booths displaying products of companies from Shandong, Yunnan, Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces.
The show is attached with agriculture-related forum.
Speaking at the opening of the show, Zhang Jing from Foreign Trade Development Bureau of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, noted that China's cooperation with Myanmar in building "Belt and Road" and economic corridor in recent years was in steady progress.
China is not only Myanmar's largest investor but also a top trading partner representing the biggest export market, she said, placing emphasis on agricultural cooperation with Myanmar..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-11-22
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-30
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Chinese investment, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"Business circles from Myanmar and China inked cooperation agreements during Myanmar (Lashio)- China(Lincang) border economic and trade fair which kicked off in Lashio, northern part of Myanmar's Shan state on Thursday.
The cooperation agreements were signed between five organizations and 16 companies from the two countries on Friday.
Deputy Minister Commerce U Aung Htoo expressed appreciation to Chinese economic cooperation with Myanmar and believed that such cooperation would be a great support for Myanmar entrepreneurs.
The forum for entrepreneurs of the two countries was also held with 100 businessmen in attendance at the first trade fair between Myanmar's Lashio and China's Lincang, South China's Yunnan province.
Yang Haodong, secretary of the Lincang Municipal Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, expressed belief that the cooperation between the two countries' entrepreneurs would lead to more convenient bilateral trade flow and be more effective in implementing new Chinshwehaw trade route..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-11-23
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-24
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"The first Myanmar (Lashio)-China (Lincang) border economic and trade fair opened in Myanmar's northern city of Lashio on Thursday.
The purpose of holding the border trade fair is to further enhance bilateral trade, expand investment and promote closer relationship between entrepreneurs of the two countries, said Myanmar Commerce Minister U Than Myint at the opening ceremony.
Chinese Embassy Minister Counsellor Li Xiaoyan said the two countries' economies are highly complementary and the two sides have broad cooperation prospect in agriculture, tourism, production capacity, infrastructure and industrial park. She believed that the border fair will provide more opportunities for bilateral business cooperation and friendly exchanges between border inhabitants as well as for jointly building the Belt and Road and China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
Chinese Consul General in Mandalay Wang Zongying said Lashio is an important portal of northern Myanmar, a political, economic and transportation hub in northern Shan state as well as an important commodity distributing center in northern part of the country, only more than 100 km from the Sino-Myanmar border..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-11-21
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"The Myanmar-China border trade fair is scheduled to be held in Lashio, the largest city in Myanmar's northern Shan state, for the first time, according to the Ministry of Commerce Monday.
The four-day border trade fair, jointly organized by Myanmar's commerce ministry and China's Lincang city government, will be held on Nov. 21-24.
Companies from Lincang selling electrical appliances and consumer products will exhibit their products, while Myanmar's finished forestry products, food, tea leaves and agricultural products will be showcased at the event, which will feature 132 stalls from the two countries.
According to the organizers, the trade fair is aimed at boosting trade relations between Lashio city of Myanmar and Lincang city of southwest China's Yunnan province, strengthening interaction between traders, creating more jobs for local residents and promoting tourism..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-11-18
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"Trade volume from Myanmar-China border camp reached more than US$ 503 million within one month from October 1 to November 1 in 2019-2020 fiscal years, up US$ 160 million compared with the same period of last year, according to the official statistics of the Ministry of Commerce.
Exports from Muse border camp were valued at US$ 266.946 million and imports at US$ 154.289 million. Therefore, exports and imports were valued at US$ 421.235 million.
Exports from Lwejel border camp were valued at US$ 2.655 million and imports at US$ 1.623 million. Therefore, exports and imports were valued at US$ 4.278 million.
Exports from Chinshwehaw border camp were valued at US$ 50.809 million and imports at US$ 6.507 million. Therefore, exports and imports were valued at US$ 57.316 million.
Exports from Kanpikete border camp were valued at US$ 18.450 million and imports at US$ 1.904 million. Therefore, exports and imports were valued at US$ 20.354 million..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2019-11-14
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-14
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"Crabs imported from Myanmar are served at a restaurant in Mangshi City, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 5, 2019. Wanding seafood market in Ruili of Dehong imports over 40 tonnes of crabs everyday from Myanmar and sells them across the country....A customer eats crabs imported from Myanmar at a restaurant in Mangshi City, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 5, 2019. Wanding seafood market in Ruili of Dehong imports over 40 tonnes of crabs everyday from Myanmar and sells them across the country.....A cook serves crabs imported from Myanmar at a restaurant in Mangshi City, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 5, 2019. Wanding seafood market in Ruili of Dehong imports over 40 tonnes of crabs everyday from Myanmar and sells them across the country......Workers sort out crabs imported from Myanmar at Wanding seafood market in Ruili City, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 5, 2019. Wanding seafood market in Ruili of Dehong imports over 40 tonnes of crabs everyday from Myanmar and sells them across the country.....Workers sort out crabs imported from Myanmar at Wanding seafood market in Ruili City, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 5, 2019. Wanding seafood market in Ruili of Dehong imports over 40 tonnes of crabs everyday from Myanmar and sells them across the country....."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-11-06
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title:
China’s new infrastructure corridor through Myanmar crosses war-torn regions, risking further conflict and environmental degradation
Description:
"A year ago, Myanmar and China signed an agreement to establish the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), as part of China’s Belt and Road global infrastructure initiative. Today, that corridor is mired in conflict between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups.
Stretching 1,700km, the CMEC’s network of new railways, trade zones and other major infrastructure projects is meant to mesh the comparatively impoverished economy of Myanmar with its wealthier neighbour’s landlocked southern province of Yunnan. However, ongoing armed conflict and lingering resentment against Chinese investments mean the future of the CMEC is uncertain.
Since its transition to semi-civilian rule in 2011, Myanmar has proven to be more cautious with Chinese investments than other developing countries. In August 2018, Myanmar officials negotiated an 80% cost reduction to the proposed Kyaukphyu deep-sea port, trimming the project from over US$7 billion to US$1.3 billion, Reuters reported. The Myanmar side, led by deputy finance minister Set Aung, baulked at the risk of an excessive debt burden..."
Source/publisher:
"Chinadialogue" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-10-21
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-23
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma's economic relations with China, Other Special Economic Zones, Chinese investment, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"As if human rights abuses, corruption charges and deadly landslides haven’t hurt the industry enough, Myanmar’s multi-billion-dollar jade and gemstone industry now has to deal with the challenges of e-commerce.
Myanmar produces 90 percent of the world’s jade and is a major player in the global gem economy, but poor regulations mean up to two-third of the country’s production is possibly not subjected to tax according to a report by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) in March.
The increasingly affluent China is the biggest market for Myanmar’s jade, and Radio Free Asia has reported how the highly valuable stone is often smuggled untaxed across porous borders to Chinese buyers – and the direct sale of jade online may now make up about 80 percent of all purchases, bypassing Myanmar’s tax collectors..."
Source/publisher:
"The ASEAN Post"
Date of publication:
2019-10-19
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Gems - mining and trade, Gems, Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"Myanmar's border trade using Individual Trading Cards (ITCs) totaled over 59 billion kyats (39.3 million U.S. dollars) in the fiscal year 2018-2019 which ended in September, according to figures from the Commerce Ministry on Tuesday.
During the period, 163 ITCs were permitted by the ministry and its export value through border gates amounted to over 9.38 billion kyats (6.25 million U.S. dollars) while import value was 49.6 billion kyats (33.1 million U.S. dollars).
From Oct. 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, 2019, Myawady border gate registered the highest trade using the ITCs with capital of 32 billion kyats (21.3 million U.S. dollars).
Since FY 2012-2013, the ministry issued 1,687 ITCs and its total trade value amounted to over 169.2 billion kyats (112.8 million U.S. dollars), the ministry's figures showed.
The country is conducting border trade with China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India.
Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, fisheries, minerals and forest products to foreign countries while capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods are imported into the country..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-10-15
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Border Trade with Bangladesh, Border Trade with China, Border Trade with India, Border Trade with Thailand
Language:
more
Description:
"China’s recent crackdowns on illegal cross-border trade from Myanmar are causing hardship for Myanmar merchants who make their living selling goods to Chinese buyers.
Prior to Beijing’s closure of the black market routes, the merchants enjoyed fairly barrier-free movement of their goods into China, but now they face taxation as high as 60 percent, especially for high-traffic commodities like rice and other agricultural products.
The effect has been particularly devastating at a rice wholesale center in Muse, a town that borders China in Myanmar’s Shan state. In days past, Chinese merchants used to crowd the facility, looking for rice they could buy cheaply, then sell for a healthy markup at home.
But now the wholesale center is nearly deserted.
Ko Sithu, a rice merchant at the center, to RFA’s Myanmar Service his business is drying up because tariffs made the grain less competitive.
“When [the Chinese] raised taxes, the rice on this side wasn’t getting a good price any longer. It’s no longer [affordable] to bring it here. We are trying to sell off the rice [we have] here at their [lower offered] price, he said.
Fruit restricted
After rice, the second largest export at the Myanmar-China border is fruit. Under new import policies, some fruits, like pineapple, which had been traded freely for many years across the border, are now subject to restrictions..."
Source/publisher:
"Radio Free Asia (RFA)" (USA)
Date of publication:
2019-10-11
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Illegal Economy - general, Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
.The potential for Myanmar to become a trade hub is good because of its location between two rapidly developing countries with large populations U Phyo Min Thein said during a dinner to mark the foundation of the Myanmar-India-China
Friendship and Development Association and signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding among Chinese traders, the India-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and 10 local business associations on September 27
“For various reasons, Myanmar is less developed, but there is a possibility that the country can achieve progress along with peace, if it cooperates with more developed neighbouring countries,” said U Phyo Min Thein.
Myanmar needs to promote the scope of cooperation in various sectors with neighbouring countries so that it can work towards peace, development and democratic nation, he added.
“The close friendship with China will further develope into a strategic cooperation, and there are also favorable conditions to build enduring relations with India to create a border trade zone between the two countries,” he said.
“As the first step toward this, the Myanmar-India-China Friendship and Development Association will promote economic cooperation between China and India in construction and steel manufacturing,” said U Zaw Zaw Naing, vice chair of the association.
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2019-10-01
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Burma's economic relations with India, Border Trade with China, China-Burma-India relations
Language:
more
Description:
"With tinted windows and their militia name emblazoned on the side of their Ford truck, “Pan Say” fighters cruise the sleazy streets of Muse, Myanmar’s main gateway to China and awash with weapons and cash from casinos, drugs and sex. Ten armed groups run the Shan State border town of Muse, which is separated by a shallow river from the gleaming towers of its Chinese counterpart, Ruili.
All are under the tutelage of the same patron: Myanmar’s Army. China and Myanmar have an agreement not to station troops along their border. Instead, Myanmar’s Army uses the militias as proxies in a long running conflict between the Central State and Ethnic Rebel Groups who operate in the area, including the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Taaung National Liberation Army (TNLA).
A fiendishly complicated, decades-old struggle for money, trade, resources and ethnic identity is playing out in Muse. The Pan Say militia gave AFP a rare snapshot of the shifting alliances and rivalries which have defined Myanmar’s frontier areas since its independence in 1948.
Each militia “looks after its own business and we look after ours”, a senior Pan Say member told AFP as a batch of 30 fresh recruits dressed in fatigues trained in a compound.
They have joined one of Muse’s largest militias, which boasts several hundred men, armed with M-16 rifles and Kalashnikovs. Pan Say insists it is funded by its own Jade Mines, Cigarette Factories & Karaoke Bars, denying knowledge of narcotics or other illegal activities that prosper along the border. Like other Muse militias, Pan Say accepted a deal in 2009 to come under the military’s control in exchange for a degree of autonomy..."
Source/publisher:
"Belt & Road News" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-02-01
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) - Myanmar, Drugs: regional and global, Drug economy, Illegal Economy - general, Border Trade with China, Burma's economic relations with China
Language:
more
Description:
"Myanmar and China have discussed raising the quota of rice that can exported to China from Myanmar says an official from the Myanmar Rice Federation.
400,000 tonnes of rice export to China market as legal quota, according to official.
The talks took place during the Second China Myanmar Economic Corridor Forum held in Yunnan Province, China. The Myanmar delegation to the forum was led by Planning and Finance Minister U.
The countries mainly discussed cooperation on the Kyauk Phyu Special Economic Zone, Muse-Mandalay railway project, and agricultural exports to China. Separately, Myanmar and China discussed rice raising rice exports to China to 400,000 tonnes.
In 2016, China permitted Myanmar to export 100,000 tonnes of rice and now Myanmar rice merchants are seeking to raise the quota by 300,000 tonnes.
U Nay Lin Zin, joint secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation, said China is supportive of exports of rice and broken rice in the border areas and will take action to legalise such border trade..."
Source/publisher:
"Belt & Road News" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-02-28
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-26
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China, Other Special Economic Zones, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"Burma experienced a loss of revenue of US $480m from exports to China during last fiscal year.
Trade on the Sinoburma border have dropped this last fiscal year after China clamped down on what it considered illegal imports from Burma while imports from China to Burma have remained unaffected, say border officials.
U Tin Ye Win, director general of the 105-mile trading zone in Muse, told NMG that Burma has experienced a loss of revenue of US $480m from exports to China from April 2018 to February 2019.
China has implemented a policy restricting products exported from Burma since last October, he explained.
“They have blocked all illegal products…As a result, trading has declined.”
Sao San Mueng, CEC of Muse-Namkham Border Trading Association, said much of the trade to China that is being obstructed is not illegal goods.
“We’re exporting legal products but they don’t recognize it,” he said.
Much of the goods exported from Burma are agriculture, aquaculture and timber.
Sai Tun Ko Ko, joint secretary of Muse-Namkham Border Trading Association, said China is blocking cattle, rice, corn and sugar exports.
“We are in negotiations for legally exporting cattle (to China).”
Manufactured products like cloth, electrical, industrial and machinery and parts are China’s top imports to Burma, Sai Tun Ko Ko said..."
Source/publisher:
BNI Multimedia Group (Myanmar) via "Network Media Group"
Date of publication:
2019-05-23
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"Myanmar is exported 88,500 out of 100,000 tons of rice to China in line with an agreement with the COFCO and the rest will be exported in coming December, according to Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).
The MRF had an agreement with China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) from China to export 100,000 tons of rice to China in 2019 and they will try to sign a new MoU with the COFCO to export more tons of rice to China for next FY, according to the MR.
Myanmar earned over US$650 million from more than 2.16 million tons of rice and broken rice in 11 months in this FY and it is less than over 780,000 tons of rice and broken rice exported in the same period in last year. Myanmar earned US$1.003 billion in the same period in last FY, said an official from Ministry of Commerce.
Myanmar is exporting rice through maritime trade to EU and Africa markets and to China via Muse border trade route.
Myanmar found new markets for its rice export in 2017-18 FY and about 3.6 million tons of rice are exported which broke the record in 50 years time..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2019-09-18
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title:
Intense fighting along major route halts fortune in cross-border trade
Description:
"Cross-border trade between Myanmar and China has ground to a halt since rebels launched coordinated attacks on several targets along a major trade route on Aug. 15.
The Northern Alliance -- a rebel collation of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Arakan Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army -- attacked a major military training academy near Myanmar’s second largest city, Mandalay, and several positions in northeastern Shan state bordering China.
The Myanmar government said the attacks left at least 15 dead, including three civilians, and caused around $200,000 worth of damage to properties and buildings..."
Source/publisher:
"ASIA - PACIFIC"
Date of publication:
2019-08-23
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, Armed conflict in Shan State - general articles, Non-Ceasefire Groups
Language:
more
Description:
"The construction of a new road and bridge near the existing Goke Hteik Railway viaduct in western Shan State will begin this year, the Ministry of Construction has announced.
The major infrastructure project along the Mandalay-Muse road, a significant border-trade route, is expected to significantly boost the transportation of goods between China and Myanmar once it is completed.
The Gote Twin section of the road between Nawngcho and Goke Hteik, along the Mandalay-Muse road, was built during colonial times and the rail bridge on the route is now over 100 years old.
The road is also narrow and has many curves and turns. Currently, trucks can take up to three hours to travel the Goke Twin stretch. During the rainy season, trucks can skid and cause traffic jams, said U Sai Kyaw, general secretary of Rice Merchants Association of Mandalay, adding that the stretch is one of the areas that see the highest number of accidents in western Shan State.
“Whenever an accident happens along the Gote Twin stretch, traffic congestion as long as six to 10 hours can occur, seriously delaying the flow of goods,” U Sai Kyaw said..."
Source/publisher:
"Belt & Road News" (China)
Date of publication:
2019-01-11
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-21
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"Total trade using Individual Trading Cards (ITCs) through border gates reached over 55 billion kyats (36.7 million U.S. dollars) as of August in present fiscal year 2018-2019, according to the figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Thursday.
From Oct.1, 2018 to Aug. 31 this year, Myanmar's export using ITCs via border checkpoints amounted over 8.7 billion kyats (5.8 million U.S. dollars) while its import shared 46.4 billion kyats (30.9 million U.S. dollars).
The country is conducting border trade with neighbouring China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India.
So far, a total of 1,681 ITCs have been issued by the Commerce Ministry since FY 2012-2013, amounting the trade value of over 165.3 billion kyats (110.3 million U.S. dollars).
Myanmar's agricultural products, animal products, fisheries, minerals and forest products are mainly exported to foreign countries while capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods are imported into the country..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua"
Date of publication:
2019-09-19
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China, Border Trade with Thailand, Border Trade with Bangladesh, Border Trade with India
Language:
more
Description:
"China and Myanmar are contemplating carrying out a feasibility study of a railway line between Muse on the Myanmar side of China-Myanmar border and Mandalay in Myanmar, according to recent media reports. The reports also suggest that China is also in the process of building a railway line connecting Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province of China, with Ruili, a town on the China-Myanmar border. Media reports are not clear if these two railway lines would be connected or would operate separately. Nevertheless, once operational, the two railway lines are expected to provide a major boost to economic activities between China and Myanmar and further cement the existing bilateral trade between the two countries.
During a visit to the border town of Ruili in China on the China-Myanmar border in 2017, this author got a first-hand exposure to the thriving border trade between Ruili and Muse. The step to conduct a feasibility study for railway network is in continuation with China’s long list of existing infrastructure projects in Myanmar..."
Source/publisher:
"Observer Research Foundation (ORF)"
Date of publication:
2018-12-20
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-15
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Topic:
Agriculture, Arakan Army, China, Economics, Ethnic Armed Groups, Finance, Muse, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Shan State, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, Trade
Topic:
Agriculture, Arakan Army, China, Economics, Ethnic Armed Groups, Finance, Muse, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Shan State, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, Trade
Description:
"Although the security situation in northern Shan State has stabilized, businesses say they are still on the alert about their safety and transport costs, which are rising due to a shortage of trucks.
The attacks by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, Arakan Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army on military and civilian targets on Aug. 15 destroyed the Goke Twin bridge on the Muse-Mandalay highway, a major trade route with China.
“It took about five days to repair the bridge and it was reopened on Aug. 20. But there were roadblocks [due to several other bridges being destroyed] between Kutkai and Muse, so we could only fully use the road again after Sept. 5. The bridge can only carry trucks weighing up to 48 tons, so everyone wants to hire those trucks to transport their goods. Therefore, the price went up,” said U Win Aung Khant, the chairman of the Muse Highway Freight Forwarders Association..."
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy"
Date of publication:
2019-09-12
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Armed conflict in Shan State - general articles, Non-Ceasefire Groups, Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Topic:
Barter Deal, Belt And Road Forum, Mandalay Rice Development Company, Myanmar Rice Exports, Rice Farmers
Sub-title:
Rice merchants in Myanmar are struggling to adapt to a new barter trade deal with China. The barter deal aims to stabilise border trade but risks depriving Myanmar’s rice industry of much-needed income.
Topic:
Barter Deal, Belt And Road Forum, Mandalay Rice Development Company, Myanmar Rice Exports, Rice Farmers
Description:
"Myanmar recently signed a trade deal with China to increase rice exports across its northern border fourfold to 400,000 tonnes per year. But under the new trade agreement, Chinese traders will pay for a quarter of the sum with bartered goods.
The barter deal offers a boost to farmers and traders in Myanmar by regulating trade and reducing costly border closures and unpredictable tariffs on the Chinese side. But the terms of the deal also impose a burden for everyone along Myanmar’s supply chains.
Myanmar and China signed the agreement on agricultural trade at the Belt and Road Forum in April. Mandalay Rice Development Company (MRDC) agreed to export 100,000 tonnes of rice to Kunming Green Color Trade Co in exchange for construction materials, appliances, fertilizers and agricultural machinery. But many merchants in Myanmar find they’re unable to sell the bartered goods.
U Htay Lwin, chair of the Rice Millers Association in Mandalay, has advocated for a barter system, saying that it would help reduce the power imbalance between the trading partners. But the current agreement may fall short of this goal..."
Source/publisher:
"ASEAN Today"
Date of publication:
2019-08-13
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Agricultural Economics, Border Trade with China, Smallholder farming and farmers in Burma/Myanmar, “One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Topic:
China, Myanmar, Rohingya
Sub-title:
Renewed violence between ethnic armed groups and the Myanmar military in Shan State has thrown joint China-Myanmar development plans into question. Relying on China to broker peace seems an increasingly risky gamble.
Topic:
China, Myanmar, Rohingya
Description:
"Since mid-August, violent clashes between ethnic armed groups and the Myanmar military have increased in Myanmar’s Shan State.
On August 15, members of the Northern Alliance of ethnic armed groups attacked the Myanmar military’s Defence Services Technological Academy in the northern Shan State town of Pyin Oo Lwin, as well as a police outpost, a narcotics checkpoint and a key bridge on the highway to China.
“We haven’t seen anything like this in decades of civil war in Myanmar,” said David Mathieson, an independent analyst in Yangon.
At least 15 people were killed in the violence and over 7,000 people have fled their homes as fighting continues.
“We have to flee quite frequently, but this time has been the worst,” said Maung Kyan, a local resident of a village near the town of Kutkai.
Northern Alliance groups have targeted trade routes linking China’s Yunnan province to Mandalay and the rest of Myanmar, prompting the closure of two key border points at Muse and Chinshwehaw. Chinese officials have met with both sides in an attempt to stop the fighting.
Northern Alliance leaders met with government representatives for peace talks in Keng Tung on August 31 but there’s been no news of progress towards a resolution.
The conflict area in Northern Shan is central to the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Both the Chinese and Myanmese governments have pushed forward with development plans for the area without securing lasting peace with the ethnic armed groups in Shan State..."
Source/publisher:
"ASEAN Today"
Date of publication:
2019-09-05
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Armed conflict in Shan State - ceasefires and ceasefire talks, Non-Ceasefire Groups, Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, “One Belt, One Road” initiative, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"The matters relating to promoting economic and trade cooperation between Myanmar and China and the use of Chinese currency in bilateral trade, were discussed at the 5th meeting of the Joint Committee for Myanmar-China Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation, according to the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
The meeting also focused on the establishment of Myanmar-China economic corridor, the use of the Chinese government’s buyer loans and soft loans, the joint implementation of five-year development program for economic and trade cooperation, cooperation in Kyaukphyu deep seaport project, industrial zone project, train and expressway, trans-national power lines and others, the establishment of Myanmar-China border economic cooperation zone and cooperation in substitute crops.
The first meeting of its kind was held in Myanmar in 2005, the second in China in 2008, the third in Myanmar in 2014 and the fourth in China in 2017 and the fifth in Myanmar in 2019..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group"
Date of publication:
2019-06-18
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-27
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"An economic zone will soon be built in Kanpaiktee at the Myanmar - China border, according to Ministry of Commerce.
At the zone there will be truck parking, warehouses, and modern equipment to check installed.
The President Office has ordered the central and working committee concerning building of Myanmar-China border economic cooperation zone to perform coordinated tasks and they have been carried out, claimed Deputy Minister for Commerce Aung Htoo.
He continued saying that there will be basic infrastructure such as staff housing, weighing machines, and X-ray machines will all be a part of the economic zone.
As China is Myanmar’s largest border trade partner, the economic zone, when complete, will help substantially in promoting local goods and services as well as create job opportunities for Myanmar citizens. It will offer a wider scope for bilateral trade cooperation including schemes to invest in factories and mills as well as develop a more robust tourism sector. Over a longer term, the economic zone is also expected to help raise exports across the border, helping to reduce the country’s trade deficit..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group"
Date of publication:
2019-07-17
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-25
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Other Special Economic Zones, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Sub-title:
Trade disruption from recent attacks by armed groups along the Myanmar-China border may last longer than the attack on the 105th mile camp that occurred in late 2016.
Description:
"The 105th mile camp trading post, which comprises checkpoints and other government offices, lies near the town of Muse in Northern Shan State just across the border from Ruili in China’s Yunnan province.
Observers including political analysts and traders said it could last longer than the 10 day suspension when the 105 camp trading post was attacked.
Insurgents from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army (AA) under the umbrella of the Northern Alliance launched coordinated attacks on a military academy in Pyin Oo Lwin on the Mandalay-Muse trade route as well as a toll gate and the Gote Twin police post on the Nawngcho trade route on August 15, which also saw the Gote Twin bridge blown up.
Insurgents also destroyed or damaged several other bridges at Chin Shwe Haw southeast of Muse along the border with China on August 17. Trading activities along the border has also been disrupted.
As of August 21, the border trading posts in these areas have not been reopened while no traffic has been allowed on the Mandalay-Muse and Theinni-Kunlong-Chin Shwe Haw routes that lead to these trading posts..."
Source/publisher:
"Belt & Road News"
Date of publication:
2019-08-24
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-24
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Border Trade with China, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"A village militia chief and his wife were shot dead Tuesday evening by unknown gunmen in Myanmar’s war-ravaged northern Shan state, while a government official said recent coordinated attacks by rebel armies in the region have seriously affected crucial trade routes with China.
Chinese-speaking and Shan-speaking assailants killed Win Maung, militia chief of Mong Yang village-tract, and his wife when they threw explosives and fired several shots from all directions into his home and a nearby office in the village in Lashio township, locals and a family member who survived the attack said.
Win Maung’s two sons and two daughters were away from home on a trip when the attack occurred, but his grandson was in the house and managed to escape.
“I heard the blasts sounding like fireworks,” the grandson said. “I tried to hide, but my grandfather told me to leave the house. I asked him to come with me, but he didn’t. I jumped out of the house and ran into the fields.”
He said he caught up with other villagers who ran from the village during the attack, and they tried to hide on the other side of the river..."
Source/publisher:
"RFA"
Date of publication:
2019-08-21
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Non-Ceasefire Groups, Armed conflict in Shan State - general articles, Border Trade with China, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"At a fruit market in Wanding, Ruili, a county on the China-Myanmar border, workers are transferring watermelons and muskmelons from Myanmar to heavy trucks which will soon leave for Beijing, Shanghai and other cities in China.
"Burmese fruit tastes good and enjoys great popularity among Chinese people," Said Liu Hongfang, a manager of the market. "About 400 Burmese trucks (3,000 metric tons) of fruit come and go in the market every day."
Thanks to closer cooperation between China and Myanmar, the company has expanded its scale and business, built refrigeration houses in Wanding and worked with locals of Mandalay to grow watermelon.
There are only about 400 kilometers from Mandalay to Myanmar's border town of Muse, next to Ruili in Southwest China's Yunnan province, but it would take the truck drivers two days because of the narrow and zigzag roads, according to Liu.
"What's worse, if a traffic accident occurs, the fruit will rot on the road," she added..."
Source/publisher:
"Chinadaily"
Date of publication:
2019-02-14
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with China, Border Trade with China, Other Special Economic Zones, China-Burma relations
Language:
more
Sub-title:
Three locations have been identified by Myanmar and Chinese officials under a memorandum of understandingfor the border economic cooperation core zones of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
Description:
"U Khin Maung Lwin, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, told the Myanmar Times that the country’s central committee for the Border Economic Cooperation Zone (BECZ), which met recently, decided on the areas for the core zones at Muse and Chin Shwe Haw in the northern part of Shan State and Kan Pite Tee in Kachin State.
He said the ministry would initiate a call for applications for expressions of interest (EOI) soon, adding that for the agreed upon Muse core zone, an export product manufacturing processing and warehouse area would be located at Panghsang (KyuKoke)-Wantain-Nwan Yin (Kyin San Kyawt)-Mantman (Shweli) while an import processing and warehouse area would be located at Salant (Manhiro)-Salin and Namkhang-Naungtaung.
The Chinese have also started processing works on their side of the border.
However, only Myanmar-owned companies will be allowed to participate in the bidding although foreign investors can still participate by holding up to a maximum 35 percent stake in such companies.
“We won’t allow 100pc foreign investment. It is important because it is border trade zone,” said U Khin Maung Lwin.
Local companies will have to present a detailed concept plan of their potential investment and source of their capital investment. “They will have to present EOI application on how they would implement projects,” he said..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times"
Date of publication:
2019-06-07
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
"Myanmar is a strategically relevant country in the illegal wildlife trade, nestled between several important source, transit and destination countries. Yet, as transportation infrastructure in the country and the region continues to improve and expand, the importance of Myanmar as a transit location for wildlife smuggling may also increase in the future.
As such, Myanmar's Customs officers have a vital role to play both at national and regional level, and increasing their capacity to detect, intercept and investigate wildlife smuggling is important to disrupt the operations of transboundary criminal syndicates.
In cooperation with the Myanmar Customs Department, UNODC organized a training course on "Risk Profiling to Enhance Interception of Illegal Wildlife Trade", which was held in Yangon from 8-10 August. Participants included Customs officers working at Yangon Port and Yangon International Airport, as well as some Police and Forestry Department officers.
"Building capacity for risk profiling is key for a more effective Customs inspection and screening process," said Mr. That Tun Aung, Director of the Prevention Division of Myanmar Customs Department. "Together with police and forestry officials, we will improve the monitoring of passengers and cargo to combat illegal wildlife trade."
During the course, participants discussed wildlife risk indicators that could be applied for air passengers, air cargo and sea cargo, and created risk profiles. A Thai Customs officer was invited to share the experience of Thai Customs in intelligence-led profiling, and proposed cooperation and information sharing between the two neighbouring Customs authorities. Participants also completed a series of practical exercises involving examination of shipping documents to target wildlife smuggling, and special investigation techniques that can be applied following a seizure..."
Source/publisher:
UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Date of publication:
2018-08-10
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-24
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
UNODC Burma/Myanmar, Threats to the fauna of Burma, Border Trade with China, Smuggling apart from drugs
Language:
English
more
Description:
"China-Myanmar border trade fell by US$562 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar, a state media outlet.
The paper’s commentator attributed the decline to tighter Chinese controls on border trade, including the suspension of some agricultural product imports from Myanmar, and the closure of a key cross-border trading post near Muse in Myanmar’s northern Shan State..."
Bertil Lintner
Source/publisher:
Asia Times
Date of publication:
2019-01-19
Date of entry/update:
2019-01-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
"The sweep led to the arrest of 155 Chinese nationals who
had been recruited from neighbouring Yunnan Province
to cross the border to cut trees and transport timber.
The case caused diplomatic tensions between Myanmar
and China when the Chinese labourers were given life
sentences in July. Just a few days later, all were freed
under a general presidential pardon.
The saga has shone a light on the murky and clandestine
trade in illicit timber occurring across the common border
between Myanmar and China. For at least two decades,
timber extracted from Myanmar?s precious frontier forests
in highly destructive logging operations has been flowing
into China unhindered. It is an illicit business worth hundreds
of millions of dollars a year, making it one of the single
largest bilateral flows of illegal timber in the world..."
Date of publication:
2015-09-00
Date of entry/update:
2018-10-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.12 MB
Local URL:
more
Description:
"Myanmar?s trade with China is heavily concentrated in cross-border trade through the Yunnan province of China. In this qualitative analysis, we examine factors that yield such a concentration from the viewpoint that trade would be concentrated in the channel where transaction costs are relatively low compared with those in other channels. It is almost certain that weak law enforcement at the border gives rise to informal cross-border trade, which allows traders to save the time and costs for compliance with formal procedures. Apart from informality, unique institutional arrangements have been emerging spontaneously in the border area that can reduce transaction costs in a way compatible with formal trade, thus augmenting cross-border trade. Based on observations of thriving trade at Myanmar?s border with China, we draw implications for the country?s general trade facilitation measures..."
Source/publisher:
IDE-JETRO Discussion paper No. 625
Date of publication:
2016-12-00
Date of entry/update:
2018-04-06
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
237.7 KB
more
Description:
"China?s youth are driving a booming trade in recreational drugs, turning neighbouring Myanmar into a meth lab.
In a hidden corner of Asia, where two dramatically different and rapidly changing nations collide, a disturbing trade is taking hold that is endangering lives around the world.
With money to burn, China?s non-stop party people are turning to drugs in unprecedented numbers, turning neighbouring Myanmar into a meth lab and driving a resuscitation of the bad old days of big-time trade in the Golden Triangle?s devastating narcotic heroin.
The epic size and industrial scale of the new Asian drug supply is staggering. Intercepts of the methamphetamine Ice or the ingredients necessary for its manufacture are toted up in tonnages. But given authorities only manage to uncover a fraction of the trade that begins in Myanmar, and pours into China, a deadly dangerous drug is in overwhelming flood.
Heroin and other dangerous drug traffic are tearing out of a newly unshackled Myanmar and into booming, cashed-up China, infecting towns and big cities that have not experienced a rampant, deadly drug culture before. Beyond China, narcotics and amphetamines are streaming out to western markets.
Connect with 101 East
Reporter Stephen McDonell takes us right into the heart of the tear-away trade, on patrol with China?s drug police struggling against the tide of illicit drugs often carried by poor Myanmar mules prepared to risk everything for a couple of hundred dollars..."
Stephen McDonell
Source/publisher:
Al Jazeera (101 East)
Date of publication:
2014-01-03
Date of entry/update:
2014-01-04
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Summary: China?s trade in timber products with Myanmar grew substantially from 1997-2002, from 295,474 m3
(round wood equivalent, RWE) in 1997 to 947,765 m3 (RWE) in 2002. Despite increased volume,
timber product imports from Myanmar comprised only 2.5% of China?s total timber product imports
from 1997-2002. However, the small fraction of total imports masks two important features: i)
timber imports from Myanmar are primarily logged in slow-growing natural forests in northern
Myanmar; and ii) logging activities that support the China-Myanmar timber trade are increasingly
concentrated along the border in northern Myanmar?s Kachin State. This greater concentration of
the timber trade has begun to have substantial ecological and socio-economic impacts within China?s
borders.
The majority of China?s timber product imports from Myanmar are shipped overland through
neighboring Yunnan Province ? 88% of all imports from 1997-2002 according to China?s national
customs statistics. Of these, more than 75% of timber product inflows passed through the three
prefectures in northwest Yunnan that border Kachin State. Most of these logging activities are
currently concentrated in three areas — Pianma Township (Nujiang Prefecture), Yingjiang County
(Dehong Prefecture), and Diantan Township (Baoshan Municipality). Logging that sustains the
timber industry along Yunnan?s border with Kachin State is done by Chinese companies that are
operating in Myanmar but are based along the border in China. Logging activities in Kachin State,
from actual harvesting to road building, are almost all carried out by Chinese citizens.
Although the volume of China?s timber product imports from Myanmar is small by comparison, the
scale of logging along the border is considerable, and border townships and counties have become
over-reliant on the timber trade as a primary means of fiscal revenue. As the costs of logging in
Myanmar rise, this situation is increasingly becoming economically unsustainable, and shifts in the
timber industry will have significant implications for the future of Yunnan?s border region.
Importantly, a large proportion of logging and timber processing along the border is both managed
and manned by migrant workers. Because of companies? and workers? low level of embeddedness in
the local economy, border village communities are particularly vulnerable to swings in the timber
trade. More broadly, timber trade has done little to promote sustained economic growth along the
China-Myanmar border as profits, by and large, have not been redirected into local economies.
In addition to socio-economic pressures, the combination of insufficient regulation in China and
political instability in northern Myanmar has exacted a high ecological price. The uncertain regulatory
and contractual environment has oriented the border logging industry toward short-term harvesting
and profits, rather than investments in longer-term timber production. Degradation in Myanmar?s
border forests will have an impact on China?s forests, as wildlife, pest and disease management,
forest fire prevention and containment, and controlling natural disasters caused by soil erosion all
become increasingly difficult. While political reform in northern Myanmar is a precondition for improved regulation and
management of Myanmar?s forests, the Chinese government has a series of economic, trade, security
and environmental policy options that it could pursue to ensure its own ecological security and
enhance the socio-economic benefits of trade. Potential avenues explored in this analysis include: i)
promoting longer-term border trade and distributing benefits from the timber trade, ii) improving
border control and industry regulation, iii) enhancing environmental security and strengthening
environmental cooperation, and iv) exploring flexibility in the logging ban...
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
LOGGING IN MYANMAR: A BACKGROUND;
MYANMAR?S FORESTS;
BASIC TRADE; GEOGRAPHY;
AN ANALYSIS OF AGGREGATE IMPORT STATISTICS, 1997-2002;
THE LOGGING BAN IN YUNNAN;
THE TIMBER PRODUCTION CHAIN: INTRODUCTION;
THE TIMBER PRODUCTION CHAIN: EXTRACTION;
THE TIMBER PRODUCTION CHAIN: PROCESSING;
THE TIMBER PRODUCTION CHAIN: DISTRIBUTION AND EXPORT;
TIMBER TRADE TRENDS BY PREFECTURE;
BORDER AND TRADE ADMINISTRATION: CHINA;
FOREST AND TRADE ADMINISTRATION: MYANMAR;
DEVELOPMENTS WITH POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHINA-MYANMAR
TIMBER TRADE;
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS;
REFERENCES.
Fredrich Kahrl, Horst Weyerhaeuser, Su Yufang
Source/publisher:
Forest Trends, World Agroforestry Centre
Date of publication:
2004-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2010-08-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Timber trade, Border Trade with China, Deforestation
Language:
English
more
Description:
This article on China?s forest trade with Myanmar builds on an earlier study by the same authors: ?Navigating the Border: An Analysis of the China-Myanmar Timber Trade? [link]. The analysis in this study moves on to identify priority issues along the market chain of the timber trade from the Yunnan-Myanmar border to Guangdong Province and Shanghai on China?s eastern seaboard. Give the increased intensity of logging in northern Myanmar after the introduction of stringent limits on domestic timber production in China in 1998, the authors argue it is now downstream buyers on China?s eastern seaboard who are driving the timber business along the Yunnan Myanmar border. While the boom in the timber business has provided income generating opportunities for many, from villagers in Myanmar to Chinese migrant businessmen, forests that can be cost-effectively harvested in Myanmar along its border with Yunnan are in increasingly short supply. This entails a need to explore priority areas such as transitioning border residents away from a reliance on the timber industry, assessing and mitigating the cross-border ecological damage from logging in Kachin and Shan States, and developing a more sustainable supply of timber in Yunnan through improving state plantations and collective forest management.
Fredrich Kahrl, Horst Weyerhaeuser, Su Yufang
Source/publisher:
Forest Trends, Center for International Forestry Research, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
Date of publication:
2005-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2010-08-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Timber trade, Border Trade with China, Deforestation
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
1005.17 KB
Local URL:
more
Description:
A Briefing Document by Global Witness. October 2003...
Table of Contents... Recommendations...
Introduction...
Summary:
Natural Resources and Conflict in Burma;
SLORC/SPDC-controlled logging;
China-Burma relations and logging in Kachin State;
Thailand-Burma relations and logging in Karen State...
Part One: Background:
The Roots of Conflict;
Strategic location, topography and natural resources;
The Peoples of Burma;
Ethnic diversity and politics;
British Colonial Rule...
Independence and the Perpetuation of Conflict:
Conflict following Independence and rise of Ne Win;
Burma under the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP);
The Four Cuts counter – insurgency campaign;
The 1988 uprising and the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC); The 1990 General Election and the drafting of a new Constitution;
Recent Developments:
The Detention of Aung San Suu Kyi...
The Administration of Burma: Where Power Lies:
The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC);
The Cabinet;
The Three Generals;
The Tatmadaw;
Regional Commanders...
Part Two: Logging in Burma:-
The Economy:
The importance of the timber trade;
Involvement of the Army;
Bartering;
Burma?s Forests;
Forest cover, deforestation rates and forest degradation...
The Timber Industry in Burma:
The Administration of forestry in Burma;
Forest Management in Burma, the theory;
The Reality of the SPDC-Controlled Timber Trade...
Law enforcement:
The decline of the Burma Selection System and Institutional Problems;
Import – Export Figures;
SPDC-controlled logging in Central Burma;
The Pegu Yomas;
The illegal timber trade in Rangoon;
SLORC/SPDC control over logging in ceasefire areas...
Ceasefires:
Chart of armed ethnic groups. April 2002;
Ceasefire groups;
How the SLORC/SPDC has used the ceasefires: business and development...
Conflict Timber:
Logging and the Tatmadaw;
Logging as a driver of conflict;
Logging companies and conflict on the Thai-Burma border;
Controlling ceasefire groups through logging deals...
Forced Labour:
Forced labour logging...
Opium and Logging:
Logging and Opium in Kachin State;
Logging and Opium in Wa...
Conflict on the border:
Conflict on the border;
Thai-Burmese relations and Resource Diplomacy?;
Thais prioritise logging interests over support for ethnic insurgents;
The timber business and conflict on the Thai-Burma border;
Thai Logging in Karen National Union territory;
The end of SLORC logging concessions on the Thai border;
The Salween Scandal in Thailand;
Recent Logging on the Thai-Burma border...
Karen State:
The Nature of Conflict in Karen State;
The Karen National Union (KNU);
The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA);
Logging in Karen State;
Logging and Landmines in Karen State;
Charcoal Making in Nyaunglebin District...
The China-Burma Border:
Chinese-Burmese Relations;
Chinese-Burmese relations and Natural Resource Colonialism;
The impact of logging in China;
The impact of China?s logging ban;
The timber trade on the Chinese side of the border...
Kachin State:
The Nature of Conflict in Kachin State;
The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO);
Jade and the KIA?s insurgent Economy;
Dabak and Mali Hydroelectric Power Projects;
The New Democratic Army (Kachin) (NDA(K));
The Kachin Defence Army (KDA);
How the ceasefires have affected insurgent groups in Kachin State; HIV/AIDS and Extractive Industries in Kachin State ;
Logging in Kachin State;
Gold Mining in Kachin State;
The N?Mai Hku (Headwaters) Project;
Road Building in Kachin State...
Wa State:
Logging in Wa State;
Timber Exports through Wa State;
Road building in Wa State;
Plantations in Wa State...
Conclusion...
Appendix I: Forest Policies, Laws and Regulations;
National Policy, Laws and Regulations;
National Commission on Environmental Affairs;
Environmental policy;
Forest Policy;
Community Forestry;
International Environmental Commitments...
Appendix II: Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG):
Ministerial Declaration...
References. [the pdf version contains the text plus maps, photos etc. The Word version contains text and tables only]
Source/publisher:
Global Witness
Date of publication:
2003-10-00
Date of entry/update:
2010-07-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Timber trade, Armed conflict and peace-building in Burma - theoretical, strategic and general, Border Trade with China, Border Trade with Thailand, Deforestation
Language:
English (Thai & Kachin summaries)
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Description:
Développement des échanges commerciaux le long de la frontière sino-birmane depuis 1988...
"Ce papier analyse les relations sino-birmanes et cherche à rendre compte de la vitalité et de la complexité des relations commerciales frontalières. Pour cela trois niveaux de réflexions doivent être mis en regard. Tout d'abord, l'engouement pour les échanges commerciaux est mis en perspectives avec les objectifs stratégiques plus larges de chacun des deux pays. Les relations bilatérales sont motivées par des intérêts économiques et sécuritaires tels que la sécurité énergétique, l'approvisionnement en matières premières, la coopération en faveur d'un développement régional ou encore le désenclavement des provinces de l'intérieur.
Ensuite, il est essentiel de décrire la situation politique et la composition de la population dans les régions frontalières afin de comprendre la relative fluidité des biens, mais aussi des personnes dans ces régions. La seconde partie de cet article dressera donc un tableau détaillé des zones frontalières sino-birmanes.
Enfin, dans une dernière partie, nous soulignerons le rôle important joué par la population d'origine chinoise en Birmanie (même s'il ne s'agit pas des seuls acteurs des échanges commerciaux). Aujourd'hui, le renouveau de l'identité chinoise et des communautés chinoises est à la fois un facteur et le résultat du rapide développement des échanges bilatéraux."
Abel TOURNIER, Hélène LE BAIL
Source/publisher:
IFRI, Asie.Visions 25
Date of publication:
2010-03-00
Date of entry/update:
2010-03-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China
Language:
Francais, French
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.06 MB
Local URL:
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Description:
Conclusion:
"Since the legalization of Sino-Myanmar border trade in 1988, flows of goods and persons have developed tremendously along the long frontier shared by these two countries. Reliable figures on bilateral trade, and to an even greater extent on migration, are scarce and contested. What is sure is that these exchanges are having deep consequences on both Yunnan and Myanmar.
Some Chinese industries and workers, for example in mining, logging or jade trading, are dependent on access to primary resources across the border. A number of transnational issues affecting Yunnan province, such as drug trafficking and the spread of HIV/AIDS, have their roots in the Myanmar socio-political situation. With the planned completion of CNPC oil and gas pipelines in 2013, the strategic importance of the border will be further raised for China. Thus, China is expecting the upcoming legislative elections to bring about increased stability and development in Myanmar and the border areas while it tries to use its limited leverage to make that happen.
China's relationship with Myanmar is often seen as unbalanced, with the former having the upper hand and being the only one benefiting from the relationship. As stated above, Chinese influence and presence in Myanmar is not only limited, it is also creating economic opportunities for Myanmar citizens, be they of Chinese descent or not. In fact, it is not on the border but at the central level that the problems created by Myanmar relations with China must be addressed. First, deep economic reforms are needed for Myanmar to move away from its overreliance on the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources to an improvement of agricultural, industrial and trade policies. Second, benefits stemming from ongoing projects between the Myanmar government and Chinese companies should be better shared with a Myanmar population that direly needs better health and education services."
Abel TOURNIER, Hélène LE BAIL
Source/publisher:
IFRI, Asie.Visions 25
Date of publication:
2010-03-00
Date of entry/update:
2010-03-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.04 MB
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Description:
Closer ties between Burma and China?s southwestern province raise concerns in Beijing...
Yunnan, China?s southwestern province bordering Burma, has always taken the lead in forging closer relations with its neighbor, usually with Beijing?s blessing. But in recent years, this special relationship has caused some irritation among China?s political leaders in the north...The Yunnan authorities understand that protecting the growing trade with their neighbor is extremely important to the province?s long-term economic future. The provincial government recently drew up detailed plans to further promote border trade with Burma. This has included favorable customs and visa procedures, and streamlined bureaucracy. But there are fears that because of the low level of trade, there may be central government interference in the future...While Beijing may not be concerned about the official trade between the province and Burma, the central government there is more concerned about the unofficial and illegal trade that is taking place, in the form of drugs, timber, wildlife and human trafficking..."
Larry Jagan
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 17, No. 6
Date of publication:
2009-09-00
Date of entry/update:
2009-12-26
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China
Language:
English
more
Description:
Getting to the roots of Burma?s latest timber export trade...
They had been rooted in Burma?s soil for many years, some of them for more than a century. Then the heavy excavation machinery moved in—and the trees moved out, across the border to China. Some Burmese nature lovers say the trees will be homesick, but for Burmese and Chinese entrepreneurs they just represent money. Lots of money..."
Khun Sam
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol 15, No. 8
Date of publication:
2007-08-00
Date of entry/update:
2008-05-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China, Deforestation
Language:
English
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Description:
(Press release): "... Ending the destruction of Burma?s northern frontier forests" , details shocking new evidence of the massive illicit plunder of Burma?s forests by Chinese logging companies. Much of the logging takes place in forests that form part of an area said to be ?very possibly the most bio-diverse, rich, temperate area on earth.?
In 2004, more than 1 million cubic meters of timber, about 95% of Burma?s total timber exports to China were illegally exported from northern Burma to Yunnan Province. This trade, amounting to a $250 million loss for the Burmese people, every year, takes place with the full knowledge of the Burmese regime, the government in Beijing and the rest of the international community. Chinese companies, local Chinese authorities, regional Tatmadaw and ethnic ceasefire groups are all directly involved.
?On average, one log truck, carrying about 15 tonnes of timber, logged illegally in Burma, crosses an official Chinese checkpoint every seven minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; yet they do nothing.? Said Jon Buckrell of Global Witness.
In September 2001 the government of the People?s Republic of China made a commitment to strengthen bilateral collaboration to address violations of forest law and forest crime, including illegal logging and associated illegal trade. However, since then, illegal imports of timber across the Burma-China border have actually increased by 60%.
?A few Chinese businessmen, backed by the authorities in Yunnan Province, are completely undermining Chinese government initiatives to combat illegal logging. Not only are the activities of these loggers jeopardising the prospect of sustainable development in northern Burma they are also breaking Chinese law.? Said Buckrell."...
Download as Word (english 2.0 Mb) | PDF (english - low resolution 6.9 Mb) | PDF (english - low resolution - part 1 1.6 Mb) | PDF (english - low resolution - part 2 1.5 Mb) | PDF (english - low resolution - part 3 1.2 Mb) | Word (chinese 2.5 Mb) | PDF (chinese - low resolution 7.8 Mb) | PDF (chinese - low resolution - part 1 4.0 Mb) | PDF (chinese - low resolution - part 2 2.9 Mb) | PDF (chinese - appendices 2.1 Mb) | Word (burmese - press release 47 Kb) | Word (chinese - press release 29 Kb) | Word (burmese - executive summary 51 Kb)
In September 2004 EU member states called for the European Commission to produce ?
specific proposals to address the issue of Burmese illegal logging
? Later, in October, the European Council expressed support for the development of programmes to address, ?the problem of non-sustainable, excessive logging? that resulted in deforestation in Burma. To date, the EU has done next to nothing.
?Like China, the EU has so far failed the Burmese people. How many more livelihoods will be destroyed before the Commission and EU member states get their act together?? Asked Buckrell.
It is essential that the Chinese government stops timber imports across the Burma-China border, with immediate effect, and until such time sufficient safeguards are in place that can guarantee legality of the timber supply. The Chinese authorities should also take action against companies and officials involved in the illegal trade.
Global Witness is calling for the establishment of a working group to facilitate measures to combat illegal logging, to ensure equitable, transparent and sustainable forest management, and to promote long-term development in northern Burma.
?It is vitally important that all stakeholders work together to end the rampant destruction of Burma?s forests and to ensure that the necessary aid and long-term investment reach this impoverished region.? Said Jon Buckrell.
Source/publisher:
Global Witness
Date of publication:
2005-10-18
Date of entry/update:
2005-10-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade with China, Deforestation
Language:
Burmese, Chinese, English
Format :
pdf
Size:
5.48 MB
Local URL:
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