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Aung San Suu Kyi arrives in Beijing for her first visit to China Suu Kyi touches down as China rejects calls to release its own Nobel laureate
(about 1 hour later)
Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in Beijing on Wednesday as China rejected calls to release its own laureate, the jailed writer Liu Xiaobo, from prison.Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in Beijing on Wednesday as China rejected calls to release its own laureate, the jailed writer Liu Xiaobo, from prison.
Beijing has released few details of the Burmese opposition leader’s five-day visit – her first to China – although officials from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party have said she will meet Xi Jinping, the president, and Li Keqiang, the prime minister.Beijing has released few details of the Burmese opposition leader’s five-day visit – her first to China – although officials from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party have said she will meet Xi Jinping, the president, and Li Keqiang, the prime minister.
“The upcoming trip reflects a common wish of the two nations to improve ties,” Xinhua, China’s official news agency, said in an editorial published on the eve of her arrival. The visit proved the Communist party was ready to engage with any political party as long as they were “willing to promote the sound development of relations with China”.“The upcoming trip reflects a common wish of the two nations to improve ties,” Xinhua, China’s official news agency, said in an editorial published on the eve of her arrival. The visit proved the Communist party was ready to engage with any political party as long as they were “willing to promote the sound development of relations with China”.
For China, the visit represents an important chance to interact with a woman likely to play a pivotal role in its neighbour’s political future.For China, the visit represents an important chance to interact with a woman likely to play a pivotal role in its neighbour’s political future.
Burma should hold its most free election in decades in November and, while Aung San Suu Kyi is banned from becoming president, candidates from her party are expected to do well.Burma should hold its most free election in decades in November and, while Aung San Suu Kyi is banned from becoming president, candidates from her party are expected to do well.
“The sorts of multibillion dollar investments that China has made over the last few years indicate to me that China is in Myanmar [Burma] for the very long haul and sees the country as one of the really key parts of its broader jigsaw puzzle,” said Nicholas Farrelly, a south-east Asia expert from the Australian National University. “Everywhere you go you can find a Chinese road, or bridge or dam.”“The sorts of multibillion dollar investments that China has made over the last few years indicate to me that China is in Myanmar [Burma] for the very long haul and sees the country as one of the really key parts of its broader jigsaw puzzle,” said Nicholas Farrelly, a south-east Asia expert from the Australian National University. “Everywhere you go you can find a Chinese road, or bridge or dam.”
Sean Turnell, an expert in Burma’s economy from Macquarie University in Sydney, said that for Aung San Suu Kyi, who turns 70 this month, the visit was an opportunity to reassure Beijing that it would be able to work with her and her party.Sean Turnell, an expert in Burma’s economy from Macquarie University in Sydney, said that for Aung San Suu Kyi, who turns 70 this month, the visit was an opportunity to reassure Beijing that it would be able to work with her and her party.
“I think she would be anxious to get across the message that she is willing to be a friend of China and that there is nothing for them to fear from her coming to prominence or even becoming president at some point.”“I think she would be anxious to get across the message that she is willing to be a friend of China and that there is nothing for them to fear from her coming to prominence or even becoming president at some point.”
Chinese state media have heralded the trip as a chance to reboot relations between Beijing and Rangoon. Tensions have frayed in recent months because of the spillover of deadly fighting between Burmese rebels and government forces into south-west China.Chinese state media have heralded the trip as a chance to reboot relations between Beijing and Rangoon. Tensions have frayed in recent months because of the spillover of deadly fighting between Burmese rebels and government forces into south-west China.
“China welcomes anyone with friendly intentions and it bears no grudge for past unpleasantness,” Xinhua’s editorial said.“China welcomes anyone with friendly intentions and it bears no grudge for past unpleasantness,” Xinhua’s editorial said.
However, Aung San Suu Kyi’s status as one of the world’s most revered pro-democracy campaigners means her presence on Chinese soil is sensitive.However, Aung San Suu Kyi’s status as one of the world’s most revered pro-democracy campaigners means her presence on Chinese soil is sensitive.
Hu Jia, an outspoken Chinese activist, urged the Burmese politician, who received the Nobel peace prize in 1991, to speak against the imprisonment of Liu Xiaobo, the writer who was awarded the same prize in 2010, after being jailed for calling for democratic reform.Hu Jia, an outspoken Chinese activist, urged the Burmese politician, who received the Nobel peace prize in 1991, to speak against the imprisonment of Liu Xiaobo, the writer who was awarded the same prize in 2010, after being jailed for calling for democratic reform.
“It is her moral duty. I would certainly do so if I were her,” Hu told the Guardian. “She will not be arrested or silenced. On the contrary, the action would win her praise and support.”“It is her moral duty. I would certainly do so if I were her,” Hu told the Guardian. “She will not be arrested or silenced. On the contrary, the action would win her praise and support.”
Beijing rejected those calls to free Liu as the Burmese opposition leader flew into the Chinese capital.Beijing rejected those calls to free Liu as the Burmese opposition leader flew into the Chinese capital.
“There is no reason to alter the judgment made in accordance with the law by China’s judicial organs,” Hong Lei, a spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry, told reporters.“There is no reason to alter the judgment made in accordance with the law by China’s judicial organs,” Hong Lei, a spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry, told reporters.
Farrelly said it was unrealistic to expect a “pragmatic and astute” Aung San Suu Kyi to criticise her hosts. “She’s a politician. The sooner we all start appreciating [her] as a political figure, I think the better it will be for everybody, including for her and for her team,” he said.Farrelly said it was unrealistic to expect a “pragmatic and astute” Aung San Suu Kyi to criticise her hosts. “She’s a politician. The sooner we all start appreciating [her] as a political figure, I think the better it will be for everybody, including for her and for her team,” he said.
“She will probably take flak wherever she goes, whatever she says, whatever she does. Her appreciation, as far as I can tell, is that to win the election in 2015 and to set her National League for Democracy up for period in government is going to require them to do some things differently.”“She will probably take flak wherever she goes, whatever she says, whatever she does. Her appreciation, as far as I can tell, is that to win the election in 2015 and to set her National League for Democracy up for period in government is going to require them to do some things differently.”
Turnell said the Burmese opposition leader might not publicly criticise her hosts but that did not mean she was oblivious to such concerns. “I think she would hold the idea that a truly democratic Burma – if that is what it is to become after the next elections – might hold out some lessons for China.”Turnell said the Burmese opposition leader might not publicly criticise her hosts but that did not mean she was oblivious to such concerns. “I think she would hold the idea that a truly democratic Burma – if that is what it is to become after the next elections – might hold out some lessons for China.”
Additional reporting by Luna LinAdditional reporting by Luna Lin