Myanmar sees temporary ceasefire between military junta and rebel groups after China-led peace talks
- Fierce fighting along countries’ border prompts Beijing to urge parties to show ‘maximum restraint’ after hundreds of thousands of refugees flee area
- But alliance of rebels based in northern Myanmar says it remains committed to defeating the military government
Representatives from the military government and three ethnic armed forces from Kokang, Ta’ang and Rakhine had reached agreement on a temporary ceasefire and maintaining dialogue after meeting in China, ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
Fierce fighting in Myanmar’s northern Shan state bordering China’s Yunnan province has persisted since late October. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the area since the alliance of regional insurgents launched an offensive targeting junta troops.
China has repeatedly expressed its concerns about the strife and called for the fighting to stop.
The peace talks materialised from Beijing’s mediation and facilitation, Mao said, adding there had been a significant easing of the conflict, a development that was “not only in the interests of all parties in Myanmar, but also contributes to the maintenance of tranquillity along the China-Myanmar border”.