The neighborly and friendly ties of China and Myanmar continue to develop with concrete cooperation deepening in every sector, thanks to the joint efforts by the two countries, said Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ye Dabo on Thursday.

Telling Xinhua in an exclusive interview as Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping is about to pay an official visit to Myanmar, Ye noted that for nearly six decades since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar, the two countries have dealt with each other with mutual respect, equality, mutual trust and sincere cooperation.

The two sides have enhanced mutual understanding, supported each other on major issues of common concern, closely coordinated over international and regional affairs and experienced the test of change in international climate with regard to the two countries' bilateral ties, he said.

Since entering into the new century, under the joint efforts of the two countries, the Sino-Myanmar neighborly, friendly and cooperative ties have continued to develop with frequent exchange of visits at high level, Ye said, adding that the exchange and cooperation in sectors such as culture, education and religion as well as combating of transnational crimes have been further enhanced.

Touching on the economic and trade cooperation, Ye said China stands as Myanmar's fourth largest foreign investor with a total investment of 1.331 billion U.S. dollars and a bilateral trade volume of 2.6 billion dollars last year.

The cooperation of the two sides in the sectors of hydropower, oil and gas, road and rail transport, communications, agriculture and mining has seen continuous expansion.

On Oct. 31 this year, a cornerstone was laid to build a crude oil port of the China-Myanmar crude oil pipeline project on in Maday island in Kyaukphyu, Myanmar's Rakhine state, which is of great significance in further enhancing the two countries' economic and trade cooperation, pushing the economic development of areas along which the project lies and improving the regional people's living standard, he said.

The 790-megawatt Yeywa hydropower plant, contracted and built by China, is nearing completion to generate electricity, he said. The construction of the International Convention Center in Nay PyiTaw, with aid given gratis by the Chinese government, is also emerging soon.

Ye also recalled that for the past long period, leaders of the two countries have always maintained frequent reciprocal visits. In 2000, Vice Chairman of Myanmar State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), Vice Senior-General Maung Aye and then Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao exchanged visits, inking a joint statement on the framework covering future bilateral cooperation.

In 2001 and 2003, then Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Myanmar SPDC Chairman Senior-General Than Shwe also exchanged visits.

This year, Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited Myanmar, while Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein attended the "Boao Forum for Asia" in China's Hainan province. Vice Senior-General Maung Aye also visited China, and Myanmar SPDC First Secretary General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Ooattended the China-ASEAN Expo and the inauguration of Myanmar Consulate-General in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

On the sideline of the recent series of East Asia Summits, leaders of the two countries met again and had broad and in-depth exchange of views over the Sino-Myanmar bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern.

Ye disclosed that at the invitation of Myanmar SPDC Vice Chairman Maung Aye, Vice President Xi is to pay an official visit to Myanmar on Dec. 19-20, saying that it is another major event of Sino-Myanmar relations and both sides highly appreciate the visit, putting hope on the outcome of the trip.

During the visit, Vice President Xi will meet Myanmar leadership such as Chairman Than Shwe and Vice Chairman Maung Aye. They will exchange views on further developing Sino-Myanmar neighborly, friendly and cooperative ties. Besides, the two sides will also sign a series of cooperative agreements, he revealed.

He believes that Xi's visit will score fruitful achievement.

Ambassador Ye stressed that the Chinese government attaches importance to developing neighborly and friendly relations with Myanmar as part of its foreign policy of living on good terms and making partners with neighboring countries. Based on the policy, China would like to actively push concrete cooperation in every sector to realize common development.

He also emphasized that Xi's Myanmar visit, which comes amid the deep evolution of international situation, impact of international financial crisis on each country and on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar, is bound to generate positive, far-reaching and major influence on the bilateral ties under new situation and it will push the bilateral ties towards a long and stable neighborly, friendly and cooperative ones with new vigor.