Chinese President Xi Jinping told Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday that China wants the bilateral ties between both nations to progress in the "correct direction." 

The meeting between the two leaders was dominated by the controversial dam project, Reuters reported.

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"The people in Myanmar stand at a new starting point for a splendid future of the country," Xi told Suu Kyi. "We should adhere to the correct direction, to push for new progress in bilateral relations and to bring tangible benefits to the two peoples."        

President Xi did not make any mention of controversial dam project while speaking to reporters after the meeting. However, reports suggest that the issue was discussed during the meeting between two leaders. The issue has overshadowed Suu Kyi's first visit to China since her party won a landslide victory last year.

Work on the $3.6 billion Myitsone dam project, completely funded by Beijing, has been stalled for five years. Former Myanmar President Thein Sein ordered the suspension in 2011 after widespread protest on environmental grounds.

Experts say that the Myitsone dam project will truly test Suu Kyi's diplomatic skills. Suu Kyi had supported the decision to suspend work on the dam in 2011. She was then under house arrest.

However, Myanmar's leader may now have to make the unpopular decision to revive the controversial project in a bid to assuage China. It is important for Suu Kyi to be in good terms with China as Myanmar is dependent on China's generous economic aid.

Several experts have noted that Suu Kyi may need China's help in resolving Myanmar's ethnic minority problem, which has been brewing on the China-Myanmar border for many years.

Meanwhile, a group of 60 civil groups from Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, dispatched a letter to President Xi via China's embassy on Thursday. The letter calls on China to lend a proper thought to their concern before arriving making any decision on the Myitsone dam project.

"We believe the People's Republic of China will take into serious consideration the fact that the opinion of Myanmar's people has never been sought extensively enough since the Myitsone project was first conceived," the groups said in their letter.

Tagschina, China and Myanmar, Suu Kyi, Suu Kyi China Visit