Fan Changlong begins visit to Myanmar

Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China Fan Changlong (C) arrives at the Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar, July 22, 2013. Fan Changlong arrived here Monday for an official visit to Myanmar as part of his three-country tour to Kazakhstan, Myanmar and Thailand. (Xinhua/U Aung)

Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China Fan Changlong arrived here Monday for an official visit to Myanmar as part of his three-country tour to Kazakhstan, Myanmar and Thailand.

In a statement released on arrival at the Yangon International Airport, Fan said his visit is to further consolidate China- Myanmar Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Partnership, increase understanding, expand common view, deepen cooperation and push forward the development of the friendly cooperative ties between the two countries and the two armed forces and make joint efforts to maintain the regional peace and stability.

For a long period, peoples of China and Myanmar as well as the two armed forces extended mutual help, nurturing deep "paukphaw" ( fraternal) friendship, he said, adding that in the new historical era, further enhancement of practical cooperation in respective sectors between the two countries and between the two armed forces not only conform to the fundamental interest of the two peoples but also contribute to the maintenance of regional peace and stability and even the world's.

He wishes Myanmar gain new development in defense and armed force building.

Fan is expected to meet Myanmar leadership and Commander-in- Chief of Myanmar Defense Services Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing in the Myanmar capital of Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday.