Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Monday urged visiting Myanmar Prime Minister Khin Nyunt to "accelerate political reconciliation and the democratic process," state media said.
Wen made the remark in a meeting with General Khin Nyunt during which he however also stressed China's position that what happened in Myanmar was the country's own business, the Xinhua news agency reported.
"China hopes Myanmar can promptly and properly tackle existing issues, and accelerate political reconciliation and the democratic process so as to step on a path to unity, stability, peace and development at an earlier date," Wen said.
As a "neighbour and friend of Myanmar," China hopes the country can achieve "political stability, economic growth, national harmony and improved livelihood for the people," Wen was quoted as saying.
But Wen also said what happened in Myanmar was the country's own internal affairs, arguing it should be up to the government and people to decide for themselves through consultations, according to Xinhua.
The international community can provide Myanmar with "constructive assistance on the precondition of respecting Myanmar's sovereignty," Wen said.
Wen was not quoted as mentioning Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who won 1990 elections but was never allowed to rule and who remains under house arrest.
Khin Nyunt's week-long visit is his first to China since his appointment last August, according to the Myanmar Times.
China is one of Myanmar's biggest trading partners with bilateral trade valued at more than one billion dollars in 2003, an increase of 25 percent from the previous year and is expected to increase further.
Beijing has for years worked hard at boosting economic ties with Southeast Asian nations in what analysts see as part of a wider move to exert more influence over the region.
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