DHAKA: Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s opposition leader, has arrived in China on her first visit at a time of tension between the two countries.

Suu Kyi will meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, but no other details have been provided, reports the BBC.

Relations between the countries have cooled in recent years, partly because of violence near their mutual border.

Myanmar has been fighting rebels in its eastern Kokang region, which borders China’s Yunnan province.

China is concerned about violence spilling over and has sent patrols to the border in response.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman told reporters on Wednesday that Suu Kyi’s visit would ‘move forward China and Myanmar’s friendly and co-operative relations’.

He added that China hoped Myanmar ‘would answer to relevant requests put in by China, stop the warfare, ease the tension, and restore peace, stability and normal order to the China-Myanmar border area at an early date’.

BDST: 2054 HRS, JUN 10, 2015
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