Narinjara News

16(?) January 2002

MYANMAR - CHINA TRADE RISING

Trade between Myanmar and its giant northern neighbour China increased 3.1 percent during the first 10 months of 2001 to 499 million dollars, according to an economic magazine published here.
Privately owned monthly periodical living colour attributed the steady growth in bilateral trade to increasingly good relations between the two countries. By the end of 2000, 759 trade agreements worth some 1.786 billion dollars had been signed between Myanmar and Chinese companies and another 87 projects wroth 186 million dollars were struck during the first 10 months of 2001.
The magazine said Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to Myanmar last month opened a " new chapter" in bilateral relations, by furthering economic and technical cooperation in the fields of energy and fisheries, among others.
Jiang was the first Chinese president to travel to Myanmar since the current regime took power in 1988.During the four-day visit he inked several deals on economic and technological ties, livestock and fisheries and oil drilling in Myanmar's Pyay field.
Myanmar's military government, long considered a pariah regime by western countries, has for years depended on China as a vital source of foreign investment and arms. #

Sourse: AFP(Yangon)'s news mentioned on today Daily Star newspaper from Bangladesh