China and Myanmar agree to accelerate key Belt and Road port

Deep-sea project will give Beijing vital access to Indian Ocean

20200118 Aung San Suu Kyi shakes hands with Xi Jinping

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Presidential Palace in Naypyitaw on Jan. 18. (Pool photo) © Reuters

YUICHI NITTA and TSUKASA HADANO, Nikkei staff writer

January 19, 2020 02:59 JST

NAYPYIDAW/BEIJING -- China and Myanmar on Saturday signed 33 agreements that will further strengthen economic ties between the countries, including a port project that will give Beijing a crucial pathway to the Indian Ocean.