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Aung San Suu Kyi set for first China visit Aung San Suu Kyi set for first China visit
(34 minutes later)
Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's opposition leader, is due to begin her first visit China, at a time of tension between the two countries. Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's opposition leader, is due to begin her first visit to China, at a time of tension between the two countries.
Ms Suu Kyi will start the four-day visit on Wednesday, her National League for Democracy (NLD) party said.Ms Suu Kyi will start the four-day visit on Wednesday, her National League for Democracy (NLD) party said.
She is due to meet China's President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, the NLD said.She is due to meet China's President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, the NLD said.
Relations between the countries have cooled in recent years, partly because of violence near their mutual border.Relations between the countries have cooled in recent years, partly because of violence near their mutual border.
Myanmar (also known as Burma) has been fighting rebels in its eastern Kokang region, which borders China's southern Yunnan province.Myanmar (also known as Burma) has been fighting rebels in its eastern Kokang region, which borders China's southern Yunnan province.
At least five people in Yunnan died in March when an aircraft from Myanmar dropped a bomb on a sugar cane field.At least five people in Yunnan died in March when an aircraft from Myanmar dropped a bomb on a sugar cane field.
China sent patrols to the border in response.China sent patrols to the border in response.
Analysis - Yuwen Wu, BBC ChineseAnalysis - Yuwen Wu, BBC Chinese
Such a visit would have been unimaginable five years ago, given Aung San Suu Kyi's status around the world as a fighter for democracy and human rights, and as a Nobel Peace prize laureate.Such a visit would have been unimaginable five years ago, given Aung San Suu Kyi's status around the world as a fighter for democracy and human rights, and as a Nobel Peace prize laureate.
China regards the prize as manipulated by "hostile Western countries" after Chinese dissident and writer Liu Xiaobo won it in 2011.China regards the prize as manipulated by "hostile Western countries" after Chinese dissident and writer Liu Xiaobo won it in 2011.
Some overseas press reports in Chinese talk about divisions within the Chinese leadership as to whether the visit should go ahead at all, and who should send out the invitation to Aung San Suu Kyi.Some overseas press reports in Chinese talk about divisions within the Chinese leadership as to whether the visit should go ahead at all, and who should send out the invitation to Aung San Suu Kyi.
In the end, it came from the Chinese Communist Party, so this is presented as a party-to-party exchange, and President Xi Jinping can meet with Ms Suu Kyi without any protocol issues. In the end, it came from the Chinese Communist Party, so this is presented as a party-to-party exchange, and President Xi Jinping can meet with Aung San Suu Kyi without any protocol issues.
Why is Aung San Suu Kyi silent on the Rohingya?Why is Aung San Suu Kyi silent on the Rohingya?
Profile: 'The Lady' of MyanmarProfile: 'The Lady' of Myanmar
While Myanmar's military junta was under Western sanctions and Ms Suu Kyi was under house arrest, China remained a loyal ally. While Myanmar's military junta was under Western sanctions and Aung San Suu Kyi was under house arrest, China remained a loyal ally.
But since reforms were introduced in 2011, the government of President Thein Sein has allied itself closely with the United States, although China continues to help develop major infrastructure projects in Myanmar.But since reforms were introduced in 2011, the government of President Thein Sein has allied itself closely with the United States, although China continues to help develop major infrastructure projects in Myanmar.
As head of the NLD, Ms Suu Kyi is expected to play a key role in Myanmar's presidential elections this November, although she is unlikely to be able to stand for president. As head of the NLD, Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to play a key role in Myanmar's presidential elections this November, although she is unlikely to be able to stand for president.
She is fighting to overturn a clause in the constitution that currently blocks her from standing as a candidate.She is fighting to overturn a clause in the constitution that currently blocks her from standing as a candidate.
Inviting Ms Suu Kyi is an acknowledgement by the Chinese that, after the Burmese general election later this year, she is likely to be a political force they can no longer ignore, says the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Yangon. Inviting Aung San Suu Kyi is an acknowledgement by the Chinese that, after the Burmese general election later this year, she is likely to be a political force they can no longer ignore, says the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Yangon.