China and Myanmar pledged to open a "new chapter" in their sometimes strained relationship, raising the prospect that stalled Chinese investment projects in the Southeastern Asian country could be allowed to resume.
Aung San Suu Kyi, head of Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy and newly installed foreign minister, and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, said the two had "reached consensus" to approach existing problems through negotiations. Wang's trip — the first high-level diplomatic visit since Suu Kyi's party filled top government offices last week — signaled China's interest in firming up ties tested by the previous military-backed government's halt of projects such as the $3.6 billion Myitsone dam.
"There is huge potential and space in the China-Myanmar economic cooperation and it's inevitable that we'd run into some problems in the cooperative process," Wang said in Myanmar's capital, Naypyitaw. "Through friendly consultation, all existing problems can be solved and an appropriate solution can be found."