Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Beijing for a state visit from June 15 to 19, his first trip to China since assuming office in April. He was welcomed with a state ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, described by Myanmar media MITV as 'warmly.' During the visit, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for talks, with Xi stating that China prioritizes its ties with Myanmar, which holds an 'important position' in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Min Aung Hlaing’s visit would serve as a vital opportunity to deepen bilateral cooperation. The visit occurred one week after the 76th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar.

According to Al Jazeera, China and Myanmar signed 18 cooperation deals, including on free trade and assistance in the event of natural disasters. CNA reported that Min Aung Hlaing met with Xi Jinping in Beijing for talks. The Guardian noted that Xi met with Min Aung Hlaing less than two weeks before meeting Bangladesh’s new prime minister Tarique Rahman.

Separately, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Myanmar on a two-day state visit, according to The Diplomat.com. He is set to discuss the development of cooperation in agriculture and food with Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing.