Aung San Suu Kyi is only now coming to China several years after she was released from house arrest by the former military government of Myanmar. This not only demonstrates her cautious attitude toward China but also reflects that she has been preparing for the visit during these years. Although Chinese leaders cannot extend her the courtesies due a government leader, they will certainly give her enough respect with an appropriate ceremony and will clarify China's viewpoints to her in a very tactful way.

It's evident that Myanmar and China are extremely important to each other. These two countries must show their sincerity by taking concrete actions to maintain the safety of the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline, the stability of their shared border, the construction of the BCIM economic corridor and other similar projects. Aung San Suu Kyi has a certain charismatic glamor in Western countries and in Myanmar, and she has made a considerable contribution to correcting absurd Western views on Chinese investments in Myanmar. China certainly hopes she will play a bigger role in further promoting China-Myanmar relations.

Aung San Suu Kyi can make use of this visit to show both her amity toward China and her ability to deal with bilateral relations between China and Myanmar, so that her party can have a greater chance of winning the general election at home this year. Currently, Aung San Suu Kyi is seeking a balance between the domestic current government and other countries, carefully choosing a safe way of hedging different interests and the concerns of various parties in order to avoid new uncertainties in Myanmar's foreign relations.

Aung San Suu Kyi is well aware that Myanmar's most urgent tasks are to promote economic development and improve people's living standards, and China has been providing the most assistance to Myanmar in these areas.

Regardless of which party or party coalition wins the general election in Myanmar, the country's future government must attach great importance to Myanmar's friendly and stable relations with China, because China offers the strongest guarantee of Myanmar's prosperity.

China already has great confidence in China-Myanmar bilateral relations, as it is proving by inviting Aung San Suu Kyi to visit China before Myanmar's election.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn For more information please visit

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/zhoushixin.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn

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