China polishes Myanmar relations as West closes in

[Jonathan Fairfield]

China polishes Myanmar relations as West closes in

The perfect place to see the close economic ties between China and Myanmar is at the vibrant jade market in the Chinese border town of Ruili.

Myanmar traders such as 47-year-old Soe Paing sell raw jade - one of the Southeast Asian country's many natural resources - in the most important trading hub between the two longtime allies. His family has been in the jade trade for generations.

"Chinese people didn't just start to like jade. They have always liked jade and used it for thousands of years," he said while examining various pieces of raw jade in his shop-office. "Our business depends mainly on China though since other countries are not as fond of jade as the Chinese."

What's happening in Ruili is part of a bigger geopolitical game between China and the West.

Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102761107

[Srikcir]

Is this article some kind of counter-spin from the article "Myanmar Pivots Away from China."