New hopes for Myanmar’s development
Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi plans to visit China to attend the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dialogue with World Political Parties Highlevel Meeting which takes place from this Thursday to Sunday. Myanmar’s military and political leaders have paid frequent visits to China over the years, from Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to President U Htin Kyaw, and now to Suu Kyi. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Myanmar in mid November, and put forward a three-phase solution to addressing the Rohingya issue and proposed to establish a ChinaMyanmar economic corridor.
The China-Myanmar relationship has entered one of its best periods in history, to which a number of factors have contributed.
To begin with, Myanmar appreciates China’s assistance in addressing the Rohingya issue. The gradual solution to the crisis will help promote Myanmar’s development and relieve the country of international pressure. An important purpose of Wang’s recent visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar was to encourage the two countries to talk so as to address the Rohingya crisis. On November 23, Myanmar and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding on the return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, a key step for bilateral coordination in which China played a vital role.
China’s solution and diplomatic efforts toward the crisis in Myanmar are constructive and pragmatic in nature. Wang’s proposal will not only alleviate tensions in the short term, but will also provide a long-term solution. Alongside differences in religions and ethnicities, poverty is a significant reason for the conflicts between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine state. The intense competition among different ethnicities for the scarce economic and societal resources in the region has fueled religious conflicts. A more economically prosperous Rakhine would make harmonious coexistence among different ethnicities more possible.
The international community has put more pressure on Myanmar regarding the issue, and even accused Myanmar of “ethnic cleansing,” and has considered imposing sanctions on the country. Yet international criticism and pressure is not helping to address the issue. The government of Myanmar and Buddhists in the country strongly oppose external intervention, with some launching protests against independent international investigations and assistance. If the UN takes forcible measures to intervene, this will only intensify the confrontations between Myanmar and the international community, making it even more difficult for the latter to engage in regional affairs and offer much needed humanitarian assistance.
Therefore, the international community should create a more favorable and constructive environment to communicate with Myanmar.
The China-Myanmar economic corridor will boost economic and trade collaboration between the two countries, signifying a new chapter in Belt and Road initiative cooperation. During his meeting with Suu Kyi, Wang said that China views Myanmar as a significant partner in jointly building the initiative, and is willing to work in accordance with Myanmar’s national development plan and actual needs. Suu Kyi appreciated China’s proposal.
The China-Myanmar economic corridor will bring mutual benefits and enhance people’s livelihoods in both countries. It is also expected to become an example of future Belt and Road cooperation. Myanmar is an important country that links China to Southeast Asia. The economic corridor will aid connectivity between Southwest China and Myanmar, contributing to China’s poverty alleviation endeavors. It can also be connected to the BangladeshChina-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, making it convenient for China’s economic and trade exchanges with Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, the Middle East and Africa.
While the West is experiencing a sluggish economic period and has a limited ability to invest in Myanmar, the corridor is an advantage to Myanmar. It will enhance Myanmar’s infrastructure, improve the country’s business environment by attracting investment, and promote sustainable development. In addition, the corridor will fully meet Myanmar’s economic and societal requirements, boost the economic development of both well-off and poor areas, close regional gaps in development, and alleviate tensions and conflicts between Buddhists and Muslims. Moreover, deepening all-round cooperation with China will help relieve Myanmar from international pressure.
Above all, through intense high-level exchange, China and Myanmar have strengthened mutually beneficial cooperation, and their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is progressing well. The Belt and Road initiative is underway and has already contributed to regional stability and development. Yet China-Myanmar cooperation should also be mindful to overcome security challenges and international obstacles for sustainable development.