Beijing's first special envoy for Asia to focus on Myanmar
Ex-deputy foreign chief faces series of difficult issues as he takes on new post
Former deputy foreign minister Wang Yingfan has been appointed China's first special envoy for Asian affairs, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.
Hua Chunying said 71-year-old Wang, who was appointed a deputy minister in 1995 and became China's ambassador to the United Nations five years later, would focus on relations with Myanmar.
Professor Fan Hongwei , an expert in Myanmese affairs at Xiamen University , said the appointment was made because Sino-Myanmese relations faced complications, even though both nations had pledged in January that oil and gas pipelines connecting the two nations would be used by the end of May.
The relationship has become trickier for Beijing following political reforms implemented by Myanmar since 2011 and its opening up to Western countries.
The decision to suspend a US$3.6 billion dam project that had Chinese involvement last year cast a shadow over ties.
A Chinese company asked the Myanmese public last month to be patient until the release of the final report on an inquiry into a Chinese-backed copper mine project. Activists claim it will have adverse environmental and social impacts.
