Myanmar’s Newly Anointed President Arrives in China

BEIJING—Min Aung Hlaing arrived in China on Monday for talks with President Xi Jinping as the Southeast Asian nation seeks ever stronger trade ties with Beijing.

The trip is the Myanmar leader’s second state visit since taking over as civilian president in April. He previously traveled to India.

Myanmar had been diplomatically isolated since his 2021 military coup ousted the elected government of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Images published by Myanmar media on Monday morning showed Min Aung Hlaing waving as he boarded a plane to Beijing.

Chinese state media reported his arrival in the afternoon.

In addition to Xi, Min Aung Hlaing will also meet Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji during his visit, which lasts until Friday, according to Beijing’s Foreign Ministry.

Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular news conference on Friday that China hopes to use this visit to renew its friendship with Myanmar and deepen “comprehensive strategic cooperation.”

Min Aung Hlaing will visit high-tech industries and attend an economic conference in China, Myanmar state media reported.

Attention has been drawn to the bilateral relationship by China’s recent detention of a Myanmar-born U.S. citizen who was working as a political analyst at a think tank focusing on Myanmar.

Min Zin, founder of the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar, “has been subjected to criminal compulsory measures”, spokesman Lin told reporters Friday.

Authorities are holding him “on suspicion of engaging in espionage activities that endanger China’s national security”, Lin said.

The think tank researches the political, resource and conflict dynamics of Myanmar.

The Southeast Asian nation’s armed forces have been battling an array of opposition factions since the coup.

Fearing political collapse in Myanmar, with which it shares a porous, 2,100 km border, China has sought to rein in rebel groups fighting the military.

Beijing also enthusiastically backed the election that delivered a walkover win this year for the military’s allies in civilian politics.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledged firm support for Myanmar in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security during a meeting with Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw in April.

After five years ruling as armed forces chief, Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as civilian president in April, in a transition democracy monitors dismissed as a rebranding of military rule.