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Saturday, December 19, 2009

China's vice-president arrives in Myanmar for talks

32 mins ago

YANGON (AFP) – Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived in Myanmar Saturday, an official told AFP, for an overnight visit as part of a regional tour as his country's likely next leader.

Xi landed at 2.15pm (0745 GMT) in Myanmar's economic hub and former capital Yangon and was expected to travel to a gem emporium and later pay homage at the sacred Shwe Dagon pagoda, the official said.

Security was very tight around the city and no media were allowed at the airport or at the Sedona hotel where he is staying.

Many Chinese nationals wearing suits and holding the Myanmar state flag gathered by the airport to greet their vice-president, an AFP correspondent said.

Xi is expected to fly to Myanmar's remote capital Naypyidaw on Saturday evening before meeting the government's military leadership including junta chief Than Shwe on Sunday.

The two leaders are expected to sign various agreements, according to another official, before Xi departs for Cambodia in the afternoon.

Xi is expected to take over as party leader in 2012, and president in 2013. His current trip started in Japan and ends in Cambodia on Tuesday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091219/wl_asia_afp/myanmarchinadiplomacy

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