By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-07 12:05:15 | Updated at 2024-11-07 14:48:54
2 hours ago
Chinese Premier Li Qiang told Myanmar’s visiting junta chief Min Aung Hlaing on Wednesday that Beijing supports its political reconciliation and plan to hold an election next year.
Min Aung Hlaing’s trip is being widely watched – it is his first visit to neighbouring China since the military seized power in a 2021 coup and comes soon after the Chinese consulate in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, was hit with an explosive device in October.
China is an ally of the junta government, which has been losing ground in a civil war against insurgent groups – many of whom also maintain ties with Beijing.
Min Aung Hlaing met Li in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming, Yunnan province, where he also attended the Greater Mekong Subregion summit on Wednesday and Thursday.
During their talks, Li told Min Aung Hlaing that China supports Myanmar to “push forward political reconciliation and transformation”, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Li also called for efforts to push forward infrastructure projects under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor – part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Min Aung Hlaing and Li also discussed the military’s battle with rebel groups and the breakdown of a ceasefire brokered by Beijing earlier this year, according to state-run Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM).
“The door of peace is always open if they genuinely want peace. The armed insurgents should do what needs to be done instead of giving priority to their needs and wishes,” the junta leader was quoted as saying.
