In a rare break from protocol, China's ambassador to Myanmar was at Yangon airport on Wednesday to see off Myanmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she left on her maiden visit to Beijing. During the five-day trip, Suu Kyi was expected to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in her capacity as chairwoman of Myanmar's National League for Democracy, a NLD spokesman said. After her arrival in Beijing, Suu Kyi met Wang Jiarui, director of the Central Committee's international department, and exchanged views on relations between the two countries. Beijing is hedging its bets on a politically ascendant Suu Kyi ALVIN CHENG-HIN LIM, ANALYST Her visit comes as China and Myanmar celebrate 65 years of bilateral relations. A reception marking the milestone in Yangon on Monday - attended by China's ambassador Yang Houlan and Myanmese Vice-President Sai Mauk Kham - was low-key compared with celebrations in 2010 and 2005 that were graced either by the presence of, or greetings from, Chinese leaders. Analysts say the latest events suggest Beijing believes Suu Kyi is likely to win Myanmar's upcoming election - if she runs - and hopes to restore amicable bilateral ties through her. "Beijing is hedging its bets on a politically ascendant Suu Kyi," said Alvin Cheng-hin Lim, of the Singapore-based Longus Institute for Development and Strategy. "The honours extended to her signify Beijing's anticipation of a regime change in Myanmar." Myanmar was important to China given its strategic location as a land corridor to the Indian Ocean, Lim said, but relations had suffered after the Thein Sein administration suspended the China-backed Myitsone Dam project in 2011 over environmental concerns. He said the suspension greatly embarrassed Beijing as it had just upgraded ties with Myanmar shortly after Thein Sein took office that year. Suu Kyi and the NLD's words have weight in Myanmar. Beijing would welcome her help FAN HONGWEI, ANALYST Tensions escalated in March after five Chinese died when a Myanmese warplane accidentally dropped a bomb on the Chinese side of the border during conflict in the Kokang region. Xiamen University professor Fan Hongwei said Beijing was likely to enlist Suu Kyi's help to clear the air between the two nations, especially over the dam suspension. "Suu Kyi and the NLD's words have weight in Myanmar," Fan said. "Beijing would welcome her help to clarify that China is not exploiting Myanmar's resources by investing in its projects." Meanwhile, activists are pressuring Suu Kyi to bring up the case of fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo , who is serving 11 years in a Chinese jail on subversion charges. Asked if Beijing would entertain any appeal by Suu Kyi to have Liu released, foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said: "There is no reason to alter the judgment made in accordance with the law by China's judicial organs." Yun Sun, of the US-based Henry L. Stimson Centre, said Suu Kyi was unlikely to broach the topic in her meetings with senior leaders. She might be posed questions on Liu outside the meetings, however, and Beijing would be closely watching her answers, Sun said. Additional reporting by Reuters