Chinese delegation first to meet Myanmar's new premier

Apr 3, 2011, 6:57 GMT

Yangon - A Chinese delegation from the Communist Party's politburo was scheduled to be the first foreign group to meet with Myanmar's new president on Sunday, sources said.

The delegation led by party central committee member Jia Qinglin arrived in Mandalay on Saturday where they were feted by the mayor and Minister for Development Affairs Phone Zaw Han and other ministers, The New Light of Myanmar reported.

The group arrived in Naypyitaw, Myanmar's capital since 2005, Sunday morning where they were scheduled to meet with President Thein Sein, who took office on Wednesday, government officials said.

'They will be the first foreign delegation to meet the new president,' said an official, who asked to remain anonymous.

China is military-run Myanmar's strongest ally, and recently became the South-East Asian nation's largest private investor.

Thein Sein had replaced Senior General Than Shwe, junta chief since 1992, as the new head of state.

In his inaugural speech, he urged the international community to 'immediately stop bullying Myanmar, drop sanctions and to work together with the government.'

Myanmar has been under economic sanctions by Western democracies since September 1988, when the army cracked down on a pro-democracy movement and reportedly killed up to 3,000 people.

The president set the goal of transforming Myanmar into an industrialized country, claiming his government 'will open the economy more by inviting foreign investments and allowing more special economic zones.'

It has been ruled by military juntas since 1988, and before that by a military-socialist regime since 1962.

Some 82 per cent of the new ministers, who came in to power after the military-managed November 7 election, are either former or active military men.

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