Myanmar President arrives in China

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Myanmar's President Thein Sein arrived in China on Thursday for a visit aimed at improving his impoverished country's commercial ties with its key ally, the world's second-largest economy.

It was Thein Sein's first bilateral trip to a foreign country since taking the helm of Myanmar's new nominally civilian government in late March.

The President — accompanied by about a dozen government ministers and military leaders — was due to meet with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday, Chinese officials said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the two sides would sign an "economic and technological cooperation agreement" during the three-day state visit.

"We hope this visit will give a boost to China-Myanmar good neighbourly friendship and cooperation, advance the bilateral relationship and advance practical cooperation across the board," she said.

Two-way trade last year totalled $4.4 billion, according to Chinese Government data — a 53 per cent increase over the previous year.

China is Myanmar's second-largest trading partner and biggest foreign investor. Energy-hungry China is an eager investor in the isolated state's sizeable natural resources.

Beijing is also Myanmar's leading ally on the international stage and a key arms supplier.

China's ambassador to Myanmar, Li Junhua, told the official Xinhua news agency that Thein Sein's government was ready for greater engagement with the outside world.

"We have seen a new phenomenon economically, that (is) inducing more foreign investment, expanding foreign trade and strengthening private enterprises," Li said.

Last week, a Myanmar government official told AFP: "The president wanted to visit China first because it is important both for diplomatic and economic ties."

In March, Myanmar's junta made way for a nominally civilian government after almost half a century in power and Than Shwe, the general who ruled the country with an iron fist for 19 years, retired as head of the military.

Thein Sein, a former general and junta Prime Minister, retired from the Army to contest an election last November that was marred by claims of cheating and the exclusion of democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi.

His first foray into foreign diplomacy was a visit to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Indonesia earlier in May.