China

There exists strong mutual supplementation in trade ties between the two countries. Myanmar has rich natural resources, including mining,

agricultural and forest products, while Myanmar consumers like Chinese goods, he said.

When asked about any change of Myanmar's economic and trade policy after recent cabinet reshuffle, he specially stressed that the policy laid

down by the government would not change but welcome Chinese entrepreneurs to do businesses and invest in Myanmar, assuring to provide

better facilities for their move and disclosing that a number of government departments has had cooperative links with Chinese counterparts and

such links would increase.

During Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi's last visit to Myanmar in March this year, China proposed an increase of bilateral trade volume to 1.5 billion

dollars by 2005. Concerning this, Myanmar also expects the same with China, he said.

Concerning the establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, he pointed out that "win-win" situation could be attained through friendly

coordination as there exists unequal status among countries.

With regard to the border trade, Tin Naing Thein said Myanmar has been making efforts to transform the two countries' border trade into normal

trade to benefit each other and the transition is being strived under a bilateral agreement signed years before on border administration.

He also disclosed that an annual Myanmar-China border trade fair will be held in December in Myanmar's border town of Muse linking China's

Ruili to boost the trade between the two countries.

According to the minister, China-Myanmar bilateral trade, including border trade, reached nearly 700 million US dollars in the fiscal year 2003-04

with China representing one of its major trading partners.

He went on to disclose that during the first half (April- September) of the fiscal year 2004-05,