The Speaker of Burma’s Union Parliament and the House of Representatives, Shwe Mann, said Burma is willing to learn from China’s development experience and push forward reform.

Speaking in an interview just before his seventh visit to China, Shwe Mann compared Burma’s transition process to China’s path to economic development.

“Nowadays China has been promoting reforms continuously, which offered experience and lessons to Burma. In fact, it is necessary to push forward reform. China’s achievement today relies on continuous reform and development,” he said.

Shwe Mann said though Burma is making progress with political reforms, he acknowledged that the people have yet to benefit.

“Burma has experienced great changes during the past three years, but mostly in the field of political reform. People have hardly benefited from economic reform,” he said.

[related]

China is the largest investor in Burma and Shwe Mann said Burma would not be able to develop its economy without help and support from China.

Shwe Mann’s visit to China from 8-12 April is to promote bilateral ties and exchanges between Burma’s parliament and China’s National People’s Congress.

As chairman of the ruling party in Burma, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Shwe Mann said reform would be top of the agenda if the USDP won the 2015 election.

“If we win the general elections in 2015, we will promote scheduled reforms aiming at multiparty democracy and market economy,” he said.