Prime Mini-ster of the Union of Myanmar General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win and wife Daw Myint Myint Soe, ministers, and departmental heads, left here by special aircraft of Myanmar Airways International at 7 am on 14 February to pay a goodwill visit to the People's Republic of China at the invitation of Premier of the People's Republic of China Mr Wen Jiabao, and arrived at Kunming International Airport of Yunnan Province of China at 10.30 am local time.

They were welcomed on board the aircraft by Ambassador of the Union of Myanmar to the People's Republic of China U Thein Lwin and Director-General Madam Zhou Hong of the Foreign Affairs Office of Yunnan Province.

Next, Prime Minister General Soe Win and wife and party were welcomed by Vice-Governor of Yunnan Province Mr Qing Guan Rong, General Secretary of the People's Government of Yunnan Province Mr Huang Yi and provincial level departmental officials, Consul-General U Myo Tint and wife Daw Maw Maw Myint, staff and family members of Myanmar Consulate-General in Kunming.

Furthermore, two Chinese girls and two Myanmar children presented bouquets to Prime Minister General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe.

Members of the Myanmar goodwill delegation took rest at the special lounge of Kunming International Airport. General Soe Win and Vice-Governor of Yunnan Province Mr Qing Guan Rong held a cordially talk.

The Myanmar goodwill delegation led by Prime Minister General Soe Win left Kunming International Airport by special aircraft and arrived at Beijing International Airport at 2.45 pm local time. Prime Minister General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe and delegation members were greeted by Chinese Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Cui Tian Kai.

Next, the Prime Minister took the salute of the Guard of Honour. The Myanmar goodwill delegation members were welcomed by Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Guan Mu and wife and officials.

Afterwards, Daw Nwe Nwe Han, wife of Myanmar Ambassador U Thein Lwin, Military Attaché Col Sein George and wife Daw Kyi Kyi Oo, staff and families of the Myanmar Embassy and the Military Attaché's Office welcomed the Prime Minister and party. Later, the Myanmar goodwill delegation led by the Prime Minister left for Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

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Premier of the People's Republic of China Mr Wen Jiabao held a ceremony to welcome Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe at the north hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing at 5.15 pm on 14 February.

Prime Minister General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe arrived at the Great Hall of the People from Diaoyutai State Guesthouse by car. At the north entrance, Premier Mr Wen Jiabao warmly welcomed Prime Minister General Soe Win and his wife.

Premier Mr Wen Jiabao presented his entourage to Prime Minister General Soe Win and and wife. Next, Prime Minister General Soe Win presented his entourage to Chinese Premier Mr Wen Jiabao.

While Prime Minister General Soe Win and Premier Mr Wen Jiabao took the salute of the Guard of Honour, the State Band played national anthems of the Union of Myanmar and the People's Republic of China. Next, they inspected the Guard of Honour.

After the ceremony, they held a discussion at the east hall of the Great Hall of the People. Also present at the discussion were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Tin Naing Thein, Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi, Minister for Hotels and Tourism and Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Thein Zaw, Minister for Rail Transportation Maj-Gen Aung Min, Governor of Central Bank of Myanmar U Kyaw Kyaw Maung, Myanmar Ambassador to China U Thein Lwin, Director-General Col Thant Shin of the Prime Minister's Office, Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brig-Gen Kyaw Kyaw of the Ministry of Defence, Director-General U Nyan Lin of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director-General U Win Maw of the Agricultural Mechanization Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Director-General U Win Kyaw of the Hydro-electric Power Department under the Ministry of Energy, Managing Director U Maung Maung Tin of Myanma Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraphs and officials.

Premier Mr Wen Jiabao was accompanied by Minister for Railways Mr Liu Zhijun, Minister for Information Industry Mr Wang Xudong, vice ministers, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Guan Mu and senior officers.

At the discussions, Prime Minister General Soe Win said he was paying an official visit to the PRC for strengthening the existing friendship and promoting economic cooperation of common interest between the two countries.

He said establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations has turned 56 years. The two countries maintained the good neighbourly relations based on the five principles of peaceful co-existence during these years. Bilateral relations have improved day after day.

New generation leaders will continue to strengthen deep-rooted Paukphaw friendship laid down by the great leaders of the two countries. Myanmar wishes to promote bilateral cooperation such as political, economic and social sectors and science and technology, the Prime Minister said.

He thanked China for its firm support as a true friend on the issues that directly connected with the interest of Myanmar.

Myanmar fully believes that China will continue to stand by Myanmar with understanding concerning the pressures imposed on her.

He assured that Myanmar has been supporting one China policy and she permanently accepted that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. Myanmar thanked China for understanding and assistance. Though the two countries share long borders, difficulties encountered could be overcome at the grassroots level, especially eradication and control of narcotic drugs. Progress has been made in normal border trade. As a good neighbouring country, Myanmar will maintain the good tradition, he added.

The government will continue to implement the tasks for emergence of a discipline-flourishing democratic nation in accord with the seven-step Road Map. He explained about the holding of the National Convention.

In connection with economic cooperation, the Prime Minister went on to say that arrangements were made for signing eight economic and cooperation agreements including MoUs. He said there were some projects agreed by the PRC left to be implemented, and he wanted them to be completed as soon as possible.

He also explained clearing the waterway for 20,000-ton vessels to go in and out along the Yangon River in connection with Thilawa Industrial Zone Project, construction of Lashio-Muse Railroad, Glass Factory in Myeik and Tyre Factory in Taikkyi.

In his discussion, Premier Mr Wen Jiabao said the friendship between the two countries has always been cemented as both place emphasis on mutual amity and good neighbourliness. Besides, both countries protect each other's interest.

China praised Myanmar for its continuous support for the One-China policy. China, on its part, has underscored and will continue cooperation with Myanmar. He said the country also has a wish to cooperate with Myanmar in the area of international affairs. It is necessary to stimulate mutual interest and cooperation between the two countries. As a token of showing amity towards Myanmar people, China will pledge 70 million yuan. In addition, US $ 200 million will be loaned at low interest rates. The loans will be used in purchasing oil drilling platform and implementing work projects in Myanmar, he said. Moreover, China has granted tax relief on 133 kinds of goods and provided exemption from 87 kinds of goods from Myanmar. The Chinese government urged the Chinese companies to invest in Myanmar energy sector, said the Premier.

China will provide continued assistance to Myanmar for its establishment of Thilawa Special Economic Zone. China also wants to be a partner of Myanmar in the regional economic cooperation. Particularly, China will provide help to the development of ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3 and Mekong Basin. It will also implement the already-agreed projects till their completion in cooperation with Myanmar, added the Premier. China has a wish to cooperate in implementing hydro-electric power and railroad projects. Continued assistance will be provided to Myanmar for its building of infrastructures that will improve the country's economy. Myanmar has made progress in its narcotic drug elimination drive. Again, the two countries have seen success in their cooperation in the narcotic drug elimination. As a good neighbour, the Chinese government is very much delighted to see that Myanmar has gained success in its political, economic and social sectors. The Chinese government will never change its policy towards Myanmar, he said. Myanmar's internal affairs need to be dealt with by its own government and people. China condemned interference of Myanmar's affairs and imposition of economic sanctions as well as submission of a report to UN Security Council to take action against Myanmar. China wished the success of Myanmar democratization process. China is giving assistance to Myanmar as a good neighbour, the Premier added.

Later, Prime Minister General Soe Win expressed thanks to his counterpart and extended invitation to the Premier and wife to pay a cordial visit to Myanmar on opportune time. And the Premier thanked him and accepted the invitation.

The ceremony to sign MoUs, agreements and contract notes between the Union of Myanmar and the People's Republic of China and talks between the Prime Ministers of the two countries took place at Hebei Hall of the Great Hall of the People at 6 pm.

Present on the occasion were Prime Minister General Soe Win and ministers, the Myanmar Ambassador to China and departmental heads, Premier of the PRC Mr Wen Jiabao, ministers, vice ministers, the Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar and senior officials.

Myanmar Ambassador to China U Thein Lwin and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce Mr Wei Jianguo signed an Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the People's Republic of China and exchanged the notes.

Myanmar Ambassador to China U Thein Lwin and Director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of the PRC Mr Yang Yuan Yuan signed an Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the People's Republic of China and exchange the documents.

Afterwards, Ministers for Rail Transportation of Myanmar Maj-Gen Aung Min and Chinese Minister for Railways Mr Liu Zhijun signed an Agreement on the Ministry of Railways of the PRC Donating Passenger Coaches to the Ministry of Rail Transportation of Myanmar and exchanged the documents.

Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Thein Zaw and Chinese Minister for Information Industry Mr Wang Xudong signed an Memorandum of Understanding on the Construction of Greater Mekong Information Superhighway Myanmar Section between Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraphs of the Union of Myanmar and Ministry of Information Industry of PRC and exchanged the notes.

Managing Director U Maung Maung Tin of Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications and Governor Mr Li Ruogu of the Export-Import Bank of China signed a sub loan agreement, which loaned US dollar 31.50 million to MPT from Exim Bank, PRC and exchanged the documents.

Later, Governor U Kyaw Kyaw Maung of the Central Bank of Myanmar and Governor Mr Li Ruogu of the Export-Import Bank of China signed a loan agreement for urea fertilizer factory project between Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China and exchanged the documents.

Managing Director U Maung Maung Tin of Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications and Chairman Mr Yin Yimin of ZTE Corporation of China signed a supply contract (phase-1) between Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications and ZTE Corporation for Myanmar National Telecommunication Network Construction Project and exchanged the documents.

Director-General U Win Kyaw of Hydro Electric Power Department of the Ministry of Electric Power and Chairman of Yunnan Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Co Ltd Mr Feng Ke signed a contract for the supply of mechanical and electrical equipment and services for Paunglaung Hydropower Project Phase II, exchanged it and the ceremony ended.

Premier Mr Wen Jiabao hosted a dinner to Prime Minister General Soe Win, wife Daw Than Than Nwe and Myanmar delegation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in the evening.

Also present at the dinner were the Minister for Foreign Affairs and his wife, the ministers, the Myanmar Ambassador to the PRC and departmental officials, the ministers and the deputy ministers from the PRC, the Chinese ambassador and senior officials.

After the dinner, the Myanmar delegation returned to Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.