Burma Assures China of Close Ties - 2004-11-07

Burma has assured China that its friendly relations with surrounding nations will continue following the sudden removal of former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt.

Khin Nyunt was generally regarded as pro-Chinese and a relative moderate member of the country's ruling junta. He was replaced by hard-line general Soe Win.

The new prime minister stressed the steadiness of Burma's official policies during a meeting with Chinese Vice Prime Minister Wu Yi at last week's Sino-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in China.

The Chinese official reportedly said that Beijing remains a true friend of Burma, and that China believes Burma's internal problems must by solved by Burma itself, without pressure from the outside.

Burma is under intense international pressure over its human-rights record.