Senior General Min Aung Hlaing underscored that priority must be given to cooperation in maintaining peace, stability, and security in the border regions of both countries.

Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech at the Myanmar-China economic cooperation promotion meeting at Tangle Hotel in Tianjin of the People’s Republic of China at 9 am Chinese standard time yesterday.

In his address, the Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar said: Myanmar and China established the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries in 2011.

China is Myanmar’s largest trading partner and ranks second among the 53 countries investing in Myanmar. The value of bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded US$8 billion in the 2023- 2024 financial year, over US$7.7 billion in the 2024-2025 FY, and more than US$3 billion up to July of the 2025-2026 FY, demonstrating that trade relations between the two countries remain strong.

Border gates play an important role in trade, and it is necessary to cooperate as much as possible to ensure stability and peace in border areas so that trade activities can resume smoothly.

If the border gates between the two countries can be reopened, the flow of goods can be expanded beyond previous levels. Moreover, trade routes can be extended from northeastern Myanmar to Yunnan Province, Chongqing Municipality of Sichuan Province, and Nanning City of Guangxi Province. This trade corridor would become a key route for both Myanmar and China, serving as a land bridge for southeastern, central and southern parts of China to connect through Myanmar and facilitate economic and trade links with ASEAN countries. Therefore, priority must be given to cooperation in maintaining peace, stability, and security in the border regions of both countries.

With China’s assistance, projects are being implemented in Myanmar to promote socio-economic development in the sectors of education and health, as well as infrastructure development in electricity and energy, agriculture, industry, and transport and communications. Joint projects between the two countries include the Kyaukpyu deep-sea port project, the Myitsone hydropower project, and the oil and natural gas pipeline project. Currently, work is also underway on the Muse–Mandalay new railway construction project and the Mandalay–Kyaukpyu railway project.

The Mandalay–Muse railway is a high-speed rail project that will connect Muse, a border town on the China–Myanmar frontier, with Mandalay. It will also link with the Beijing–Kunming–Ruili high-speed rail line currently under construction in China. Muse is the most important border gate city for China–Myanmar trade. In the 2023–2024 financial year, the total value of border trade between the two countries exceeded $3.2 billion, of which over $2 billion passed through the Muse– Ruili border gate. Moreover, this railway project provides China’s landlocked southern provinces with an opportunity to access the sea through Myanmar. The Muse–Mandalay railway represents the first phase of the Kyaukpyu–Kunming railway project and is a key component of it. The Mandalay–Kyaukpyu railway project, in turn, offers China a promising opportunity to gain a gateway to the Indian Ocean.

Moreover, Myanmar occupies a strategically important geographical position at the junction of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China, making it a country that can provide China with access to the Indian Ocean.

If Myanmar, China, and Russia can jointly expand their trade sector, it would create significant opportunities to greatly enhance the flow of goods within the region.

Furthermore, Myanmar is one of the first countries to ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.

During the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2017, the governments of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the People’s Republic of China signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the preliminary framework of the Belt and Road economic corridor and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, marking Myanmar’s participation in the project.

Myanmar aligns with several of the eight priority sectors under China’s Global Development Initiatives (GDI), making the country a promising destination for investors. Therefore, Myanmar provides clear benefits and tax exemptions for partner businesses, and efforts are made to ensure that investors and traders operating in Myanmar can conduct their activities without disadvantage. So, Myanmar invites investors to come and invest with confidence for economic cooperation.

Myanmar’s goal is to reduce the use of fuel-powered vehicles in the country and increase the adoption of electric vehicles. Therefore, EV manufacturers from China are encouraged to come and invest in Myanmar.

Although the export of raw natural resources from Myanmar to foreign countries is not permitted, the export of processed products is allowed. Since the extraction of natural resources can harm the environment, it is essential to carry out environmental conservation efforts. Investors wishing to engage in mineral processing in Myanmar are invited to come and discuss opportunities in the country.

Myanmar prioritizes the development of renewable energy production and is also interested in Waste-to-Energy initiatives as a secondary priority. To promote and accelerate investment and cooperation between Myanmar and China, it is necessary to establish a Myanmar–China business cooperation group so that joint projects can be implemented efficiently and effectively.

During the meeting between the President of the People’s Republic of China and the Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, successful discussions were held. Economic cooperation between the two countries has been ongoing for a long time, and since market and economic systems are currently being developed, those interested in investment are welcome to come to Myanmar for discussions and collaboration.

Given Myanmar’s strong drive for development, cooperation with partner countries is needed to fully enhance economic collaboration. Efforts from partners are essential, and Myanmar invites investors to come and engage in investment activities.

Those wishing to invest in Myanmar asked about investment opportunities for Chinese companies in Myanmar, export and import policies of Myanmar, assembling of EVs in Myanmar, expanding of more investment and tariff, investment in generating electricity from solar power and recycling of waste to generate electricity, investment in mining and energy sectors, environmental conservation, plans of Myanmar government to resolve difficulties in investment, more transparency for economic relations between the two countries, and protection for investment.

Union ministers discussed manufacturing of EVs in Myanmar through SKD system, tax exemption for import of EVs, protection for investment in Myanmar, investments in energy and electric power sectors.

The Acting President SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar had luncheon hosted by UMFCCI together with China-Myanmar investors and entrepreneurs. Afterwards, officials demonstrated making process of tea salad meal of Myanmar.

The Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar cordially greeted Chinese businesspersons and economists.

At the MOU-signing ceremony, Union ministers and officials from relevant companies signed the agreement on information exchange and cooperation between MRTV of the Ministry of Information and Xinhua News Agency of China; an MoU on cooperation between UMFCCI and China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises-CASME; an MoU on cooperation between Myanmar-India-China International Cooperation & Economic Development Association-MICA and CASME; an MoU on cooperation between Shwe Thanlwin Holding Company Ltd and China Harbor Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC); an MoU on cooperation between Royal Green Ocean Co Ltd and Jiangxi Longzheng Technology Development Co Ltd; an MoU on cooperation between Yunnan Baoshan Hengyi Industrial Group Co Ltd (HYIG) and Transland Public Co Ltd (TPC); and an MoU on cooperation between Platypus Public Co Ltd and China Enerever Solutions (Shanghai) Co Ltd, respectively.

Also, present at the ceremony were members of the high-level Myanmar delegation, the Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar, the Myanmar Ambassador to China, the president and officials of Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry-UMFCCI, those wishing to invest in Myanmar, Chinese investors, economists and officials.

MNA/ TTA

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