“Chinese President Xi Jinping has ​begun a meeting in Beijing with his Myanmar ‌counterpart Min Aung Hlaing,” Chinese official media ​agency Xinhua said on Tuesday (June 16, 2026), as ⁠the neighbouring countries seek to deepen relations.

Min Aung Hlaing is in China for a five-day visit ‌until Friday (June 19, 2026), his first trip to the world’s second-largest economy since the former ‌junta chief formalised his grip on ‌power ⁠following controversial elections in the war-torn country ⁠in December and January.

Beijing held a State welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday (June 17, 2026) morning ​before the leaders ‌began their talks. “The two men then witnessed the signing of cooperation documents,” Xinhua said without elaborating.

China remains one of the most ‌important foreign partners of Myanmar’s military, which ​seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February ⁠2021, triggering an armed uprising.

China’s Foreign Ministry has said it supports Myanmar in unifying domestic political ‌forces and restoring stability. Beijing has also invested in projects in Myanmar under its Belt and Road Initiative, including an oil and gas pipeline crossing the country and planned infrastructure including a deep-sea port.

The meeting is Min ‌Aung Hlaing’s second with Mr. Xi in less than ​a year, after he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin last August. While ⁠Min Aung Hlaing had picked India for his ⁠first foreign trip after becoming president, some analysts said the visits to China ‌suggested a closer relationship with Beijing and a boost to his international acceptance.

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing arrived here on Monday (June 15, 2026) on a five-day visit for talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and other leaders to strengthen close strategic ties between the two countries.

Mr. Min, a former military ruler, assumed the presidency following the recent elections in Myanmar, which is facing an ongoing internal rebellion.

He visited India from May 30 to June 3, his first visit abroad after his election, and held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which he assured that Myanmar’s territory will not be allowed to be used against India’s security interests.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Friday announced that Mr. Min will pay a state visit to China from June 15 to 19, during which he will hold talks with Xi, Premier Li Qiang and other officials.

Mr. Lin said that through President Min’s visit, China looks forward to working with Myanmar to carry forward fraternal friendship, deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and secure more tangible results for both countries.

Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe visited Beijing earlier and held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

Both Ministers discussed scaling up their bilateral ties and accelerating the development of Myanmar, which for long was caught in civil war between the military junta that ruled the country for decades and rebel militias.

In recent years, China has deepened its influence in Myanmar, backing the military rulers with major strategic investments, which included a route providing it direct access to the Bay of Bengal with oil and gas pipelines.