by Zhuang Beining

YANGON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar will benefit from its cooperation with other countries under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, a Myanmar expert has said.

Located on the routes of both the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Myanmar could seek opportunities of development through cooperation with other countries in trade, investment and infrastructural construction, U Khin Maung Lynn, joint secretary of the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS), told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The country will also take part in cooperation programs that suit itself, he added.

U Khin Maung Lynn is optimistic about the cooperation prospect between Myanmar and China in the drive, saying that infrastructure is the sector in which breakthrough is most likely to be made in bilateral cooperation.

The vitality of the Belt and Road Initiative, which Myanmar actively supports, lies in the participation of a considerable number of countries and their mutual-trust and cooperation, he said.

Lauding the initiative as a "great idea", the expert said that only "cooperation could bring out benefits" to the countries along the Belt and Road, including Myanmar.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013 with the assessment of the changing world situation and a combination of countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and Middle East, is also economically necessary, he noted.

U Khin Maung Lynn stressed the need to make use of the cooperation between four countries -- Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BICM) -- as an economic corridor that links the modern Belt and Road.

He underlined the importance of giving priority to the development of infrastructure in international cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

To implement simultaneously the "five links" of the Belt and Road Initiative, fair policy and arrangement are needed, he said.

Noting that the Belt and Road Initiative has a good wish, U Khin Maung Lynn urged for ways to implement it successfully.

Myanmar needs to learn more about the positions and plans of other countries on the Belt and Road and set up special research teams to implement related policies, He added.

The Belt and Road Initiative has been welcomed by leaders of many countries including Myanmar President U htin Kyaw.

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