Myanmar frees prisoners for Jiang

Jiang is the first Chinese head of state to visit Myanmar since the military seized power

YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar's military government has freed more than 200 Chinese prisoners to mark the arrival of China's President Jiang Zemin.

The prisoners, mostly held on immigration charges, were released on December 10 and 11 as a sign of goodwill, a government statement said.

Jiang is the first Chinese head of state to visit the Southeast Asian country since the current military regime seized power in Yangon in 1988.

His visit is seen as a boost to Myanmar's military junta, which is facing global criticism for suppressing democracy and human rights.

Much of the west -- including the United States and the European Union -- shuns contact with the ruling military, which they accuse of rights violations.

Relations between Myanmar's military government and China have warmed in recent years, with Beijing becoming a key supplier of arms to its southern neighbor.

This has caused growing concern in other countries in the region, especially in India, that Beijing's political and economic influence is moving rapidly southwards.

Beijing influence

Jiang was greeted by a warm welcome

Analysts have told The Associated Press news agency that Jiang's visit signals China's intent to reassert its economic and strategic interests in Myanmar.

Senior figures in the regime have depended heavily on China for trade, credit and weapons over the past decade.

According to a Myanmar government spokesman, Jiang and the head of Myanmar's government, General Than Shwe, will sign agreements covering "a wide range of areas" to boost bilateral co-operation.

Impoverished Myanmar offers China a potential path to the Indian Ocean, and could serve as a land bridge for trade between South and Southeast Asia.

The two other major Asian powers, India and Japan, are also vying for influence in Myanmar.

China only ranks as the 15th biggest foreign investor in impoverished Myanmar, although $60 million worth of investment projects are being discussed, according to Reuters news agency.

In the last fiscal year (April 2000-March 2001), Myanmar imported $293 million worth of goods from China. Exports to China amounted to $104 million.

History of friendship

China stuck by Myanmar after the regime crushed the 1988 pro-democracy uprising -- often compared to Beijing's Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.

China also does not join the international criticism of the junta over its refusal to accept the general election victory of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 1990.

Analysts also expect Wednesday's talks to cover counter-narcotics cooperation between the two totalitarian states, which share a 1,250 mile border.

Myanmar is the world's leading producer of heroin, which has led to high addiction rates and the spread of AIDS in southern China.