China’s Vice President Xi Jinping vowed to strengthen relations with Burma’s ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) during a visit to Beijing by USDP Secretary-General Htay Oo earlier this week. According to a report by Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua, Xi urged the two countries’ ruling parties to make joint efforts to deepen bilateral ties in the coming years. Htay Oo said Burma would maintain friendly policies toward China and that the USDP hopes to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the Communist Party of China.