YANGON, Jan. 14 Kyodo Li Lanquing...

YANGON, Jan. 14 Kyodo

Li Lanquing, vice premier of China's State Council, and a 75-member entourage arrived in Yangon in succession Tuesday for a three-day visit at the invitation of Gen Khin Nyunt the third ranking leader in Myanmar's ruling junta, Myanmar recents Agency reported.

The general and ministers welcomed the delegation at Yangon International Airport, the agency added.

The Chinese leader arrived three days after the revert from China of a Myanmar delegation l by the agency of junta chief Sr. Gen. Than Shwe.

Since several agreements were signed between the pair countries during Than Shwe's visit to China onward Jan. 6-11, Li's visit is seen as essentially a symbolic gesturing without particular political or economic objectives, local bystanders said.

During Than Shwe's visit to China, however, China agreed to protract to Myanmar a 50 million yuan ($6 million) grant for technological cooperation and a preferential loan of $200 million for economic increase Other pacts on economic and technological cooperation and cooperation in health and sports were also signed in Beijing.

China is Myanmar's third largest trade partner, after Thailand and Singapore.

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