Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), arrived in Yangon of Myanmar to kick off his official goodwill visit Wednesday evening.

Li Changchun (C), a senior official of the Communist Party of China, arrives in Yangon of Myanmar on March 25, 2009. Li Changchun kicked off his official goodwill visit to Myanmar on Wednesday. [Liu Jiasheng/Xinhua]

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, paid the visit at the invitation of the Myanmar government.

In a written statement delivered at the airport, Li conveyed sincere greeting and friendly wishes to the Myanmar people. As neighboring countries, Li said, the friendly exchanges between China and Myanmar can be dated far back in history.

Myanmar is one of the first countries which recognized the new China after its founding in 1949.

"Early in the 1950s, China, Myanmar and India jointly initiated the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, thus contributing to the peace in Asia and the world at large," he said.

Li Changchun (L), a senior official of the Communist Party of China, arrives in Yangon of Myanmar on March 25, 2009. Li Changchun kicked off his official goodwill visit to Myanmar on Wednesday. [Liu Jiasheng/Xinhua]

In the new century, Li said, the good-neighborly and friendly relationship between China and Myanmar scored new progress thanks to concerted efforts made by both.

"My delegation and I have come here on a goodwill mission to enhance mutual trust, consolidate friendship, deepen cooperation and promote development of the two countries," he said.

During his stay, Li is expected to exchange views with leaders of Myanmar on bilateral relations and issues of common concern. The visit "surely will elevate the good-neighborly and friendly cooperative ties between China and Myanmar to a new height, and will contribute to peace and development in the region," he said.

Myanmar is the second-leg of Li's four-nation tour which will also take him to Republic of Korea and Japan. He has already visited Australia.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2009)