My last stop on a recent trip to Myanmar was Sagaing Hill. The hill, located on the Ayeyarwady River, 20 kilometers to the southwest of Mandalay, is dotted with hundreds of stupas and Buddhist monasteries, among which a pagoda, known as the Japanese pagoda to locals, is rising up.

The pagoda was donated by Japanese citizens to commemorate their soldiers who died in the battlefields of Myanmar and India during World War II.

Standing in front of the pagoda with Myanmese architectural characteristics while its base is carved in hundreds of Japanese names, I didn't know how to react. Just a few hours ago in Mandalay, some Chinese-ethnicity Myanmese told me that several Chinese survivors of World War II had officially asked for a monument for their comrades who had died in the Myanmar theater. Given their advanced age, it is unlikely a monument will be built before they pass away. 

I have heard many views, both from locals and Chinese working in Myanmar, praising Japan's good work in Myanmar during my trip. The locals in particular are impressed by Japan's assistance in aspects like road construction, donations for planting and pagoda building, and free personnel training.

Li Zuqing, president of the Mandalay-based Fuqing International Language and Computer Training Center, a school specializing in Chinese language training and cultural communications between China and Myanmar, told me that considering the number of Myanmese Chinese in Myanmar, the current momentum of locals studying Chinese is not as strong as could be expected. Instead, Japanese is seemingly more popular, as Japanese centers in Myanmar often provide free study materials and the registration fee for the official Japanese language test is nearly one-third of the fee for the Chinese test.

With Myanmar further promoting democratic reforms and improving relations with Western countries, some have begun to point to a split in Sino-Myanmese relations, despite top leaders stressing the enduring importance of sound relations. The suspension of the Myitsone dam last September has led many to reflect on Chinese companies' lack of grass-roots communications in Myanmar, and such thinking can carry over into bilateral relations.

The Japanese Pagoda in Sagaing Hill was donated by war veterans' associations of Japan, as inscribed on several stone memorials around the pagoda. Such links not only help minimize political meanings attached to the memorials, but also help build up Japan's image.

China could learn from this. More importantly, China has many advantages in developing friendships with Myanmar, given its convenient location, especially in agriculture, religion and tourism.

Forestry and agriculture are mainstay industries of Myanmar, with over 60 percent of the population engaging in farming. When Myanmar President Thein Sein attended the 9th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in September, he told the media that agricultural reform was the top priority for his country during its transition. He also toured China's Shaanxi, an agricultural province, to study its policies.

China could offer some help to Myanmar in this aspect. According to official sources in Mandalay, nearly 5,000 village libraries in the province are in dire need of materials and books covering modern agriculture knowledge.

China has many agricultural resources. For example, the CCTV-7 television channel, focusing on military and agriculture reports, has made many programs introducing Chinese farmers' agricultural experiences. If some NGOs could be encouraged to translate these videos into Myanmese and donate them to the libraries, such exchanges could prove very helpful.

Religious ties can also be drawn through Buddhism. With hefty Buddhist populations in both countries, exchanging relics or organizing other cultural opportunities would help cement this link. For example, a tooth of the Buddha displayed in China has been sent to Myanmar three times at the request of the Myanmese government, with great festivities accompanying it every time.

The final field for growth is clearly tourism. Western tourists are a common sight in Myanmar's scenic spots and airports. So far, Chinese people have visited Myanmar more for business rather than tourism. Myanmar is rich in Buddhist culture and architectures, as well as offering a glittering array of natural beauty. Increasing Chinese tourists could help develop the tourism industry in the country and benefit the locals. It would also help minimize the misunderstanding that Chinese come to Myanmar only to reap profits.

More grass-roots communications are needed. During a transition period, the Sino-Myanmese relationship should adapt to Myanmar's changes.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. yujincui@globaltimes.com.cn