Myanmar’s president to visit China

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing will visit China for five days starting Monday to strengthen diplomatic ties and discuss cooperation with Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping. The visit aims to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries, which have a 76-year history of close relations and significant economic and social collaboration.

Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing will embark on a five-day state visit to China beginning Monday, marking his first trip to the country since assuming office in April. The visit aims to reinforce the longstanding diplomatic ties and enhance practical cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

During the visit, Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He will also meet separately with Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislative body, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian.

China and Myanmar have maintained diplomatic relations for 76 years, grounded in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Lin described the bilateral relationship as one built on mutual support and solidarity, with both countries striving to deepen what China calls the “pauk-phaw” or fraternal friendship. The upcoming talks are expected to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership and aim for more concrete achievements in the development of a China-Myanmar community with a shared future.

This visit follows recent high-level exchanges, including visits by Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe to Beijing earlier this month and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip to Myanmar in April. China remains Myanmar’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $19.4 billion in 2025, an increase of 19.1 percent compared to the previous year.

Earlier this week, President Min Aung Hlaing attended the opening ceremony of the “2026 Chinese Film Week” in Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw, where he expressed gratitude for China’s humanitarian aid delivered after a severe earthquake. He also acknowledged ongoing Chinese support in various social development sectors, including education, healthcare, social affairs, and rural development.

Experts note the significance of the political trust underpinning China-Myanmar relations. Zhou Fangyin, a professor of International Relations at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, highlighted that the partnership has grown on a foundation of mutual respect and benefit, creating favorable conditions for deeper practical collaboration between the two nations.