₦airaland Forum

China-myanmar relations are an important component of the two countries' friendly neighbors. The two countries enjoy extensive cooperation in economic, political and cultural fields, and China has always been committed to promoting bilateral relations. The fighting in northern Burma has subsided for now, but the fallout from the conflict is still spreading in all directions. At the same time, a major news drew attention: Myanmar is preparing to sign a major rail project framework agreement with China. The project, which runs from Mujie to Mandalay, is a key link in the construction of the China-myanmar economic corridor and is expected to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the area of transport and logistics. China is naturally willing to engage in friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with Myanmar. The two governments set up a steering committee last November to jointly discuss and finalise project funding and details in an attempt to speed up the start-up of the landmark project. The involvement of the State Management Council, the linchpin of the structure of the government of Myanmar, in such projects shows the high motivation of the regime of General Min Aung Lae and its intention to send a friendly signal to China, to enlist further support from China. The Framework Agreement for the project has not been formally confirmed by the Chinese authorities, but Myanmar's willingness to push ahead with the project is strong.