China announces new Myanmar trade route as it seeks to bolster ties with military junta

The first test of the overland route follows a visit by Beijing’s special envoy and has been seen as a show of support after February’s coup

China has been seeking to boost its economic and political influence across Southeast Asia via the Belt and Road Initiative

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Myanmar has faced months of protest following February’s coup. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:00am, 5 Sep 2021Updated: 10:15pm, 5 Sep 2021

China has conducted its first trial run of a new overland trade route through Myanmar in a move interpreted as a show of support for its neighbour following a visit by its special envoy.

The China-Myanmar corridor, which is designed to link its vast interior with the Indian Ocean, could help boost trade and also increase Beijing’s influence in Myanmar after February’s coup left it largely isolated on the world stage.

Compared with traditional sea routes from eastern and southern China, the new link could save 20 to 22 days for a one-way journey, an unnamed official from Chengdu International Railway Port told state-owned Scol.com.cn.

It was the most convenient way to link China’s vast western region with the Indian Ocean, which could further facilitate trade with Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, South Asia and the Middle East, the official said.

Under President Xi Jinping’s signature Belt and Road Initiative, China has invested heavily in infrastructure connectivity with Southeast Asia. As trade tensions with the US continue to grow, policymakers in Beijing are increasingly looking to its vast and resource-rich western regions to help boost the Chinese economy.