Sawt Falasteen - Myanmar's president meets China's Xi in Beijing: state media

China is a rare enduring partner for Myanmar after Min Aung Hlaing's 2021 coup ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, prompting Western nations to cut ties with the Southeast Asian nation.

China has emerged as a key power-broker in the civil war sparked by the coup, and also vocally backed recent polls that excluded Suu Kyi's party and returned a walk-over win for pro-military MPs -- who elected Min Aung Hlaing as president.

Xi held a welcome ceremony for Min Aung Hlaing at Beijing's opulent Great Hall of the People on Tuesday morning, before the two leaders met for talks, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Min Aung Hlaing landed in Beijing on Monday to a red carpet welcome, according to images shared by his office, and spent the first hours of his five-day trip touring Beijing Aerospace City -- the centre of China's space programme.

He is also set to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji.

The Myanmar leader's trip -- his second state visit since taking over as civilian president in April -- comes as ties with Beijing have frayed in recent years over internet scam centres along the countries shared border areas that have targeted Chinese citizens, analysts say.

China hopes his first visit as civilian president will deepen "comprehensive strategic cooperation", foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on Friday.

Beijing is a key provider of materiel to the Myanmar military and has also brokered a pair of landmark truces with two of the most powerful rebel factions that once challenged it in the borderlands with China.

While Myanmar has been massively impoverished by the civil war, it has also emerged as a major global supplier of mined rare earth minerals -- vital for China's production of renewable energy technology.

In April, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledged firm support for Myanmar in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security during a meeting with Min Aung Hlaing in the capital Naypyidaw.

J.Saleh--SF-PST