Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s de facto leader, was due to arrive in Beijing yesterday for a trip that could give the first big steer on how her government would position the country between world powers vying for influence.

Myanmar’s dominant politician, who holds the office of state counsellor because she is barred from the presidency, is scheduled to visit China to warm relations that had become frosty under the previous government.

Analysts see the three days of talks as a further sign of Aung San Suu Kyi’s desire to engage with China on areas from energy supply to a peace process aimed at ending decades of internal conflict in Myanmar. China is keen to retain both influence and large infrastructure projects in its impoverished neighbour, which it views as a critical corridor from the Indian Ocean for supplies of goods such as oil and gas.