Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has met with Burma's head of state Senior General Than Shwe and its prime minister General Soe Win during a short visit today-Thursday.
Chinese embassy officials say Mr. Li met the two leaders separately at the Burmese parliament building in Rangoon.
The Chinese foreign minister had cut short his time at meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation Wednesday for the 24 hour state visit to Burma.
Burma announced on Tuesday that it would skip its planned chairmanship of the 10-member regional bloc in 2006, because of objections to its human rights record.
Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad, a staunch ally of the junta in Rangoon, said Thursday the Burmese decision was a positive sign. He said the international community must persuade Burma to adopt a greater degree of democracy.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.
