| Exchanges and cooperation in other fields |
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The two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in both countries have maintained good cooperation. Six rounds of Deputy Foreign Ministers' Consultations have been held since the two sides established the consultation mechanism in 1992. In 1993 China and Myanmar reached the agreement of mutually restoring consulates-general, and thus the consulate-general of Myanmar re-opened in Kunming that September and the Chinese consulate-general re-opened in August 1994. In 1997, the two countries signed "Agreement on Management and Cooperation in Sino-Myanmar Border Areas" and in 1998 signed "Mutual Exemption of Visas for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders between the Chinese and Myanmar Government". Cultural exchanges between China and Myanmar has long-lasted in history and become more frequent after the two countries established the diplomatic relations, among which one is praised far and wide when in 1960 U No led a 400 member delegation consisted of representatives from fields of culture, art, and movies to visit China while in 1961, a return visit was conducted by a 530-member delegation led by Premier Zhou Enlai. In recent years, cooperation in cultural fields is further enhanced with continuous contacts and visits of cultural, information and sports delegations. In 1996 the Ministries of Culture of the two countries signed the protocol for culture cooperation. In 1955, 1994 and 1996, the relic of Buddha's tooth----the national treasure of China were three times enshrined and worshiped under the request from the Myanmar side, which were warmly received by the Myanmar Government and all circles of people. Recent years also witnessed the smooth development of bilateral military relations. Senior level exchange of visits has been maintained with the follows: To Myanmar: Deputy Chief of the Staff General of the People's Liberation Army of China Lieutenant General He Qizong (November 1991), State Council and Minister of Defence General Chi Haotian (July 1995), Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission General Zhang Wannian (April 1996), Political Commissar of the General Armament Department Lieutenant General Li Ji'nai (June 1999), Chief of the General Staff General Fu Quanyou (April 2001), Deputy Chief of the Staff General General Wu Quanxu (December 2003); To China: Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and Commander-in-Chief (Army) Lieutenant General Than Shwe (October 1989), Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye (October 1996), Chief of Staff (Army) Lieutenant General Tin Oo (May 2000), Chief of Staff Thura Shwe Mann (December 2002), Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Maung Aye (August 2003), Secret 1 of SPDC and Chief of Air Defence Lieutenant General Soe Win (July 2004). |