China says Foreign Governments Should Not Interfere in Burma's Election

China says the international community should avoidthe country. She says the visit will further cement
interfering in Burma's November elections. The callthe already close ties between the neighbors.
comes at the start of Burma's military leader ThanGeneral Than Shwe also will tour the Shanghai Expo
Shwe four-day state visit.and Shenzhen, the economic powerhouse where
As Beijing prepared to welcome Burma's SeniorChina's rapid industrial development began.
General Than Shwe, the Chinese Foreign MinistryHuman-rights groups have criticized China over its
rebuffed international criticism of the close tiessupport for Burma. Most developed nations have
between the two Asian neighbors.imposed economic sanctions on the government
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said thatbecause of its poor human-rights record, but China
Burma is a friendly neighbor to China. She went on tohas never done so.
say that Burma's election in November is an internalBut last year, Beijing publicly rebuked Burma after
matter.fighting between its army and an ethnic minority
Jiang says countries critical of Burma's governmentgroup's militia sent more than 30,000 refugees into
should refrain from what she describes as anyChina.
negative impact on its political process - especiallyRegional political analysts say on this visit General
during the run-up to the elections.Than Shwe will seek continued economic and
Several governments, including the United States, saydiplomatic support from Chinese leaders. But they are
it does not appear the elections, the first in 20 years,likely to urge him to avoid causing instability in the
will be fair. Human-rights groups and Burmeseregion.
opposition members say the elections will allow theChina is now Myanmar's third largest trading partner
military to continue to dominate the government.and investor after Thailand and Singapore. Bilateral
Jiang says General Than Shwe will meet Chinesetrade totaled $2.9 billion in 2009.
President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao while in