Talking Points

for
H.E. General Thein Sein,
Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar
at the discussion with
H.E. Mr. Wen Jiabao,
Prime Minister of People’s Republic of
China
(Vientiane, March 2008)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Dated. March 2008

Talking Points for

H.E. General Thein Sein, Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar at
the discussion with H.E. Mr. Wen Jiabao Prime Minister of People’s
Republic of China
(Vientiane, March 2008)
Introduction
Your Excellency,
ƒ It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to call on Your Excellency
on the sideline of the 3rd GMS summit.
ƒ I have brought along the best wishes and warm congratulations extended
from His Excellency Senior General Than Shwe to President Hu Jintao
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for his re-election to the Presidency for the new term. He also sent his
best wishes for the good health and personal well-being of Your
Excellency and the leaders of the People’s Republic of China.
ƒ I also wish to once again extend my warm congratulations to Your
Excellency for your re-election as the Premier. I believe that our two
countries will be able to further enhance the existing pauk-phaw relations
in the years to come.
ƒ Before proceeding further, I would like to introduce the members of my
delegation to Your Excellency.
ƒ On my left is----------------
ƒ Next is ----------------------------

ƒ I would like to invite Your Excellency to start the discussion.

ƒ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ƒ Thank You.

Bilateral Matters
Your Excellency
ƒ Though it is my desire to pay an introductory visit to call on Your
Excellency at your capital since my assumption of the Premiership, my
planned visit to China has yet to materialize for various reasons.
ƒ I have already visited some of ASEAN member countries. I hope that I
will have the opportunity to pay a visit to your country soon.
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ƒ Pending my planned visit to China, I am glad that I had had a chance to

call on Your Excellency on the sideline of 13th ASEAN Summit in
Singapore.
ƒ I would like to take this opportunity to discuss with Your Excellency on
some bilateral matters.
ƒ During his meeting with Your Excellency, our late Prime Minister had
made a request for China’s assistance for construction of railways line
from Shweli-Muse to Lashio in Myanmar as it would facilitate promotion
of trade between our two countries.
ƒ A survey had been made for this railways project and the cost is
estimated around 3700 million Ramibi. During my last visit to China in

June last year, the Governor of Yunan Province had expressed his
willingness to implement Shweli-Lashio railways construction project if
the Central Government approves the project.
ƒ As the completion of this new railways line will facilitate the flow of
Chinese products into Myanmar and through it to its neighbouring
markets such as India, Bangladesh and Thailand, I believe that it can
bring long-term benefits to both countries.
ƒ In order to fulfill the common desire to normalize border trade and to
raise bilateral trade volume to US $ 1.5 billion, it is very important to
have smooth transport linkages.
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ƒ Therefore, I would like to request Your Excellency to give special

consideration to provide financial and technical assistance for
construction of the Shweli - Lashio railways project.

Excellency,
ƒ I would like to thank the Government of the People’s Republic of China
for providing assistance for construction of the International Convention
Centre at our new administrative capital, Nay Pyi Taw. I would like to
inform you that the site for the ICC has been selected and the
groundbreaking ceremony has been held recently. I hope that we will

receive the continued cooperation and supports from China for successful
completion of the project.

Excellency
ƒ I am pleased to note that our bilateral relations and cooperation is being
conducted in two-way approach to ensure mutual benefits. Myanmar had
donated 300 tons of teak wood for construction of a pavilion at Buddha’s
Tooth Relics Temple.
ƒ I wish to express once again our deep sympathies for the loss of lives and
property in your country early this year.
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ƒ With our sincere intention to contribute in the relief and resettlements in

those areas affected by the snow storm, we have decided to donate over
3000 tons of hard woods at a value of over US dollars 936,000 to China. I
wish to inform Your Excellency that the hardwoods to be donated are
now ready for handing over to the Chinese side at the Muse depot.

Excellency
ƒ In order to cope with the growing energy demand along with the growth
of economy, the Myanmar Government is always seeking ways to make
good use of the energy resources.

ƒ Many hydropower projects are being implemented in cooperation with our

close neighbours like China and India. There are still many more
potentials for tapping hydropower in our country, 2000 MW in Chindwin
River and 13000 MW along the Ayeyawaddy River. We would therefore
like to invite China to look for more opportunities to cooperate in new
hydro power projects in our country.

Your Excellency
ƒ I would like to express my appreciation to the leaders of China for their
kind attention and friendly advice on the political developments in
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Myanmar by dispatching a special envoy, the Deputy Minister of Foreign

Affairs of China late last year.
ƒ We are also deeply appreciative of the understanding and support
extended by China to Myanmar at the international forums. As a close
friend, I would therefore like to apprise you of the latest political
developments in Myanmar.
ƒ We are cooperating with the United Nations in our efforts to transform
the country to a democratic state.
ƒ I would like to update you with the most recent ones.

ƒ Mr. Gambari, Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General has
visited Myanmar for five times to date and our Government has

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accommodated many of his requests and implemented some of his

practical advice.

ƒ Although we earlier planned to receive Mr. Gambari’s fifth visit in latter

half of April, we have received him from 6 to 10 March in demonstration
of our respect to the request made by Mr. Gambari and the friendly
advice of China.
ƒ During his recent visit, Mr. Gambari was accorded the opportunity to
meet with the Spoke Authority led by cabinet ministers, members of the
Refrendum Convening Commission, representatives of political parties
including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, NGOs and social organization,
diplomatic corps and UN representatives.
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ƒ Mr. Gambari welcomed and commended our Government’s recent

announcements for putting the new constitution to a nation-wide
referendum in May 2008 as well as for setting the timeframe for holding
of general elections in the year 2010.
ƒ He had also offered technical assistance and advisory services from UN
for the successful holding of the referendum as well as for the general
election. As we had had the experiences of holding referendum to adopt
the 1974 Constitution, we thanked the United Nations for the kind offer,
however we explained him that we do not see the need for seeking such
technical assistance or advisory services from abroad.

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ƒ With regard to the Special Envoy’s proposal on holding of Economic

Forum, we are of the view that the Forum can be effective only after the
lifting of the existing unilateral sanctions imposed on Myanmar as well as
the removal of the blockage of financial assistance by such organizations
as World Bank, IMF and the ADB. Therefore, the political decision on
the proposed Forum can be made only after settlements of details at
technical levels.
ƒ As the United Nations Security Council is considering the issue following
the briefing by Mr. Gambari on his recent visit to Myanmar, I would like
to request Your Excellency to continue to lend a helping hand to
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Myanmar, as has been done before, in preventing the Council from

adopting any statement or decisions with regard to the issue of Myanmar.
ƒ We are firmly confident that the People’s Republic of China, which has
always shown its understanding on Myanmar, will continue to extend its
full support to our country at the international and regional forums.
ƒ We view the recent unrest in Lahsa, Tibet as the internal affairs of the
People’s Republic of China and we are fully confident that China will
overcome the difficulties in maintaining the domestic stability. As we
have experienced similar bitter experiences, we fully understand and
sympathize the challenges faced by China. I believe that the situations in
Tibet will return to normalcy soon.

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ƒ We have learnt that despite the strong opposition by international

community, Taiwan is making efforts to seek the membership of UN by
holding referendum at the time of Taiwan election on 22nd March.
Gravely concerned about the move, we had recently issued a press
statement reiterating our continued adherence to “One China Policy” and
our opposition to any move for Taiwan independence and.

Conclusion

Excellency,
ƒ I would like to thank you for sparing time for me to call on Your
Excellency despite your busy schedule here in Vientiane.
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ƒ I look forward to meeting Your Excellency again at the forthcoming

ASEAN Summit by the end of the year and to discuss issues of mutual
interest for strengthening of our bilateral relations.
ƒ I would like to conclude by expressing my best wishes for good health
and continued success to Your Excellency and to the leaders of the
People’s Republic of China.
ƒ Thank you.