DHAKA: China has signed agreements worth US$7.8 billion with neighbouring Myanmar, state media reported on Saturday, as Beijing continues to assert its growing economic clout in South-east Asia.

Deals overseen by Chinese premier Li Keqiang and Myanmar president Thein Sein on Friday included agreements to build power plants fuelled by natural gas.

The state-run China Daily reported, says The Straits Times.

Beijing was a key backer of Myanmar’s military junta while it was under Western sanctions, but Thein Sein has increased ties with other countries including the United States since launching political reforms in 2011.

In a surprise move, Thein Sein in 2012 ordered work on the huge US$3.6 billion Chinese-backed Myitsone Dam to stop after local protests, sparking anger in Beijing.

The two countries agreed to establish an ‘electricity cooperation committee’, to keep future projects from meeting a similar fate, the China Daily said.

BDST: 1617 HRS, NOV 15, 2014