On January 12, 2017, Vice Minister Gao Yan and Deputy Minister of Finance of Burma Maung Maung Thein co-chaired the 4th China-Burma Joint Commission on economy, trade and technology. They carried out in-depth talks on implementing consensus reached by leaders of both sides, strengthening the docking of development strategies and pragmatic cooperation in border trade, infrastructure construction, energy, cross-border economic cooperation zones, finance, agriculture and husbandry, substitute planting, assistance in Burma and regional economic integration. Extensive consensus were reached .

Gao Yan said China and Burma are linked by mountains and rivers and the friendship of our peoples dates back to ancient times. It’s the first joint commission between China and Burma since the new government of Burma took office and is of significance. The Chinese side would like to join efforts with Burma to genuinely implement the consensus reached by leaders of both sides, strengthen the docking of their own economic and social development strategies, conduct trade and economic cooperation in various forms on equality and mutually beneficial basis, encourage Chinese enterprises to expand investment in Burma and improve competitive imports from Burma. Efforts will be made to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, energy, transport, industrial park and ability building. Give a full play to China’s financial aid and shift the focus to the improvement of people’s life in Burma. We will actively promote cooperation in major projects and bring real benefits to peoples of both sides.

Maung Maung Thein extended thanks to the Chinese side for its long-term support and help to Burma’s economic and social development. He would like to work with China to jointly implement the cooperation consensus reached by leaders of both sides, and step up mutually beneficial cooperation to meet the interests of the two countries. Burma would like to study the strategy docking with China, which aims to jointly protect the sound and orderly development of bilateral trade and advance as well as to carry out China’s assistance in Burma.