Chinese President Xi Jinping Thursday met with Myanmar's National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Suu Kyi, on her first trip to China, said during the meeting that the NLD admires China's great achievements under the leadership of the Party.

We believe these words came from her heart. As this is Suu Kyi's first visit, the friendship of the Chinese people and the country's development have created a deep impression. Myanmar, still mired in poverty, faces daunting challenges in national development. As a stateswoman, Suu Kyi needs to prioritize Myanmar's national interests.

The China-Myanmar relationship is built on a deep and friendly foundation, though in recent years, bilateral ties have met setbacks. The divergence between the two countries partly results from Myanmar's internal politics, but it is also influenced by external geopolitical contentions.

Since 2011, Myanmar has embarked on a democratic transformation process resulting in great changes to its internal politics. The Western media portrays this transformation as Myanmar breaking away from China's influence and the relationship between the two sides is regressing. But it misreads the situation.

China has an indispensable role in Myanmar's national development and Myanmar's geographic location is important to China. Both sides are eyeing a long-term healthy development in bilateral ties.

China's investment in Myanmar is built on the basis of mutual benefit. The country harbors no empire-building ambitions, nor does it intend to interfere with Myanmar's internal affairs. As the two countries are geographically connected, it is in China's interests to help Myanmar realize national stability through social and economic development.

Bilateral cooperation is guided by mutual benefit, not ideology. The invitation to Suu Kyi by the Communist Party of China itself shows that China-Myanmar engagement surpasses ideology.

China's rapid growth in the past three decades, sustained by its unique development model, is attractive to underdeveloped countries. China's experience of large-scale poverty relief and promoting democracy in a way that fits the country while managing general social stability, can all be drawn upon by developing countries. The Chinese model is having a positive influence on China's neighboring countries.

In fact, China's commitment in regional development, through initiatives such as the "One Belt, One Road" program, is carried out through the same philosophy that China desires a win-win result by promoting development in its neighbors and in the region.

Suu Kyi's visit is expected to set another successful example for China's near-neighbor diplomacy.