Myanmar Prime Minister General Soe Win said on Tuesday that in line with the development of economic and trade cooperation between Myanmar and China, the two countries' traditional friendship would definitely be further enhanced.

Soe Win made the remarks when meeting with Su Shulin, visiting senior vice president of the PetroChina Company Limited of China.

Soe Win also said that the traditional friendship between the two nations has not only strengthened their bilateral cooperation but also enhanced cooperation in the region.

He pointed out that Myanmar has rich natural resources, while China possesses capital and technology, which enables the two countries to do so many things in the exploitation of the resources.

China is the 11th largest foreign investor in Myanmar having an investment of US$203.52 million in 25 projects, according to Myanmar official statistics.

China also stands the second largest trading partner of Myanmar at present with their bilateral trade amounting to US$1.145 billion in 2004, up 6.3 percent from 2003, according to Chinese figures. Of the total, China's exports to Myanmar stand at US$938 million, while its imports from Myanmar represent US$207 million.

The two countries are heading for a targeted bilateral trade volume of US$1.5 billion by the end of this year.

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2005)