BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Liu Yuejin, director of the Narcotics Control Bureau of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, on Friday met and exchanged ideas with Myanmar officials over the murder of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River last year.

Liu, also head of the special investigation team for the case, met with Myanmar's Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and a senior official with Myanmar's Defense Services in Nay Pyi Taw, the country's capital, according to a statement released Friday by China's Ministry of Public Security.

"The two sides exchanged information and opinions regarding the case and reached positive results concerning further measures," said the statement.

Naw Kham, head of an armed drug gang and believed to be associated with the bandits who killed the Chinese sailors, was arrested on April 25 at an undisclosed location in Laos.

The drug lord was extradited to China for an investigation and court trial on May 10.

Chinese police said a joint police investigation in China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand found evidence that Naw Kham, core members of the gang and a small number of Thai soldiers planned and conducted the murders of 13 Chinese sailors on two cargo ships on Oct. 5 last year.

Liu's visit followed Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu's trip to Myanmar, during which Meng urged the two countries to carry out strengthened law enforcement cooperation as well as a joint crackdown on Naw Kham's gang.

During the meeting, the two sides shared the evidence held by each and discussed army-police cooperation in their next move, said the statement.

The gang, consisting of more more than 100 members and armed with assault rifles, bazookas and machine guns, is believed to have engaged in drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, looting and other crimes along the Mekong for many years. Enditem

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