It is still only barely being resuscitated. The impact of Covid has necessitated some nuanced changes in foreign policy - as for a long period the border with China was effectively closed and cross-border trade ground to a halt. In fact in the course of the last 12 months Myanmar has concertedly tried to wean itself off its over-reliance on Beijing, for political support, economic assistance and investment. "It includes political, economic and security cooperation and commands genuine mutual support of each other, especially on the most difficult issues, such as China's support of Myanmar on the Rohingya issue and Myanmar's acceptance of Taiwan as 'a part of the People's Republic of China'," according to Ms Yun.īut despite the fanfare a year ago at the beginning of this era of stronger and deeper relations, things have not gone as smoothly as Beijing expected. For the Chinese it was a significant step in their bilateral relations in which they redefined as the "Sino-Myanmar Community of Common Destiny" - the highest possible level of bilateral relations for Mr Xi's administration. The Chinese foreign minister's trip also marks the anniversary of the historic China-Myanmar Summit in Nay Pyi Taw last January, when China's president Xi Jinping visited Myanmar - the first official visit by a top Chinese leader in 20 years. Though of course parts of this concept were central to the Chinese leaders thinking when the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was mooted several years previously. He suggested it as a means of fostering national reconciliation and development. In fact the concrete idea of the CMEC was put forward by Mr Wang in November 2017 on a visit to the Myanmar capital. I'd think Covid cooperation and the general consolidation of a positive momentum in relations between the two countries in light of the NLD's upcoming second term will be on the top of the list," she told the Bangkok Post. "The China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) is moving slowly, but that is to be expected given the Covid impact in 2020. "China has plenty of things that it wants to nudge Myanmar on," according to the China specialist Yun Sun, senior fellow at the US-based Stimson Centre. Most commentators believe the agenda is likely to prioritise economic issues and Covid assistance. He will certainly meet President Win Myint, the State Counsellor and the Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and key ministers in charge of the economy, according to Chinese sources. While the finer details of Mr Wang's itinerary are still being worked out, according to Myanmar diplomatic sources. So, it is not really surprising that this visit is taking place in view of the NLD's second landslide win in 2020," she told the Bangkok Post. Wang Yi was the first foreign dignitary to visit Myanmar when the NLD government took office in 2016. "Chinese dignitaries and senior officials are usually the first visitors to Myanmar when a new administration takes office. "It's routine practice in China's bilateral relations with Myanmar," according to Moe Thuza, a former Myanmar diplomat, now a regional specialist and Myanmar programme coordinator at the Singapore-based think-tank, the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Most diplomats and political observers expected an early visit from the Chinese envoy. Foreign diplomats believe this may reflect some discomfort on the part of Nay Pyi Taw at the visit, and what is seen as "vaccine diplomacy". It is low-key and being handled discreetly, according to Myanmar government sources. The visit seems to have been arranged at short notice - and tagged onto Mr Wang's current trip to Africa. He will be the first international diplomat to visit Nay Pyi Taw in person since the elections last November. Mr Wang's primary purpose on this visit is to show China's unswerving support for the country and its civilian leader, the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi - and to congratulate the National League for Democracy (NLD) on its landslide electoral victory. It is intended to further strengthen Chinese influence in the country, in light of the changing international dynamics in the region, amid fears that China's sway is beginning to wane.īeijing is increasingly concerned with a plethora of issues, including recent Indian and Japanese initiatives with Myanmar, which Beijing fears may prove to be to their detriment, but also to take stock of the continued economic cooperation, strengthen its support for the peace process and to boost China's support for Myanmar's battle to control the Covid pandemic. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to arrive in Myanmar on Monday on a critical two-day visit.
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