Peace process and controversial dam to dominate Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi’s landmark China trip

Myanmese State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in China on Wednesday, her first ­official visit outside an Asean country since her party came to power in April.

Relations between the two sides had been bumpy since the long-ruling military junta lost power in 2011 and the trip would give leaders on both sides a chance to establish familiarity, analysts said.

Suu Kyi landed in Kunming in Yunnan province, accompanied by a team of ­officials including ministers for transport and communication, power and energy, and ­finance. They flew to Beijing where she was today due to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Premier Li Keqiang.

Two issues are expected to dominate talks – the peace ­process involving Myanmese rebel groups, which have been fighting along the Yunnan border, and the controversial Myitsone Dam project, which China is eyeing as a key supplier of electricity for its power-hungry south.

Last week, Myanmar’s ­government said it would set up a commission to review several ­hydropower projects, including Myitsone.