China’s vice president has pledged his country’s support for a proposed highway to link Burma’s coast with China, according to state media. Officials said last month Burma rejected a Chinese loan to fund the US$2 billion road linking a planned industrial zone in Arakan State to the Muse-Ruili border crossing, preferring the project to be funded by its developers. The Chinese Xinhua news agency said that during a meeting with Burma Vice President Nyan Tun in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao said that “China is ready to work with Myanmar to promote the building of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.”