Xi Jinping Meets Myanmar Military Leader Min Aung Hlaing in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. The two leaders held a closed-door meeting that lasted less than one hour after a state welcome ceremony. Xi stated, “I am willing to continue strengthening our leadership (over our countries’ bilateral ties), carry forward the brotherly friendship between our two peoples, deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation,” according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

He also spoke about making greater contributions to regional peace and development through bilateral ties. The leaders witnessed the signing of 18 memorandums of cooperation covering cross-border transportation in the Greater Mekong subregion, free trade, natural disaster assistance, health, and media, Xinhua reported. Min Aung Hlaing is on a five-day state visit to China ending Friday.

This is his first trip to China since formalizing his grip on power following elections in December 2025 and January 2026. His previous meeting with Xi occurred at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin in August 2025. China’s foreign ministry stated it supports Myanmar in unifying domestic political forces and restoring stability.

Beijing has invested in an oil and gas pipeline and a planned deep-sea port in Myanmar under the Belt and Road Initiative. Myanmar’s military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Min Aung Hlaing chose India for his first foreign trip after becoming president.