Myanmar to benefit from China's Belt and Road initiative

YANGON - Myanmar is believed to benefit significantly from China's Belt and Road initiative which Myanmar is taking part in.

The Belt and Road initiative, comprising the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime silk Road, was proposed by China in 2013. It envisions a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.

In an interview with Xinhua on Friday, U Mya Than Zaw, managing director of Truly Myanmar Travel and Tour, said bordering with China and being rich with natural resources and tourist heritage, Myanmar will attract more visitors from the neighbor by taking part in the initiative.

As both countries practice the same Buddhism, it is expected that the two countries will have better cultural exchanges between them, the managing director said.

He spoke highly of the high quality of Chinese products entering the Myanmar market such as Huawei and ZTE, noting that mini stores which sell quality products from China are currently very popular in his country.

U Win Tin, who works as a chief editor for Union Daily, also said in an interview that China has become the second economic giant in the world, recalling that he had been to China for 14 times between 1991 and 2016 and witnessed China's development.

Myanmar and China have the good legends of enjoying good bilateral relations, the chief editor noted, adding he appreciates China's way of development.

China practices the market economy which suits with its own conditions amid a population of 1.3 billion, which creates a large consumer market where the products of each province can be exchanged to meet the demands, he said.

China enjoys rich natural resources and wide country area as well as good transportation, he noted.

The Belt and Road initiative is expected to expand and strengthen the market globally, based on the legendary main trade route--the Silk Road, he said.

The initiative is a great idea as it is expected to boost international trade by enhancing transportation in many kinds of ways such as railways, highways and ports, he said, believing that the initiative will be absolutely successful.

Through the participation in the initiative, Myanmar has an advantage of bridging China's southwestern gate with the India Ocean, he said, pointing out that China can easily link other ASEAN countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore through Myanmar which lies on the main point for trade transitions in the marine route of the initiative with good location on the route of BCIM economic corridor.

However, he stressed that the Belt and Road initiative would not be accomplished in Myanmar if the conflicts in northern and western parts of the country are still going on.