Myanmar's military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on his first visit to the neighboring country since the junta seized power in a 2021 coup.

Min Aung Hlaing held talks with Li on Wednesday in Kunming, the capital of the southern province of Yunnan. He was in the city to attend several regional meetings.

Myanmar's state media reported that the military chief expressed his intention to work with China in various fields, including the economy and energy security.

Li said Beijing stands ready to work with Myanmar to advance the construction of an economic corridor under China's Belt and Road Initiative. He also showed support for what he called Myanmar's "political reconciliation and transformation."

Myanmar's military is struggling to maintain power in protracted fighting with pro-democracy forces and armed ethnic minority groups. The junta has apparently been attempting to strengthen ties with China.

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also held rare talks with the junta chief.

Speaking to reporters, she expressed readiness to help promote peace in Myanmar. But she didn't mention if she had urged Min Aung Hlaing to comply with an ASEAN peace plan that calls for an immediate end to the violence in the country.