The military leadership in Myanmar described the upcoming elections as a key step toward transferring power from a military to a civilian authority.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement quoted by the BBC said the election was a chance for Myanmar to develop politically.

"We hope that the international community will provide constructive help for Myanmar's upcoming election and avoid bringing negative effect to bear on Myanmar's political course and regional peace and stability," the statement read.

The statement comes as Myanmar's ruling Gen. Than Shwe arrives in Beijing for talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and top Cabinet officials.

Western allies say the Myanmar election will be a farce because it is expected to be tightly controlled and carefully monitored by an elections commission appointed by military leaders.

Myanmar is facing international pressure for the continued detention of Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung Suu Kyi. She led her National League for Democracy to a decisive victory in 1990, thought the military junta never accepted the results.

Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for most of the past two decades and is barred from taking part in elections.