China's Defence Minister Chang Wanquan calls for border stability in Myanmar ahead of historic elections

Defence Minister Chang Wanquan has urged Myanmar to maintain stability along their 2,100km border ahead of what Beijing hopes will be successful polls in November, the defence ministry said yesterday.

The historic polls will see the military-backed ruling party compete with the ascendant National League for Democracy (NLD) party of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in the first free national vote in 25 years.

Since taking power in March 2011, Myanmar's reformist government has sought to decrease the heavy dependence on China that grew when Myanmar was a pariah state under military rule.

Beijing has watched nervously as the US lifted some sanctions and engaged the semi-civilian government, although China has also been keen to engage other political parties such as the NLD.

Chang told Myanmar's deputy commander-in-chief General Soe Win, who was visiting Beijing for military talks, on Monday that China and Myanmar should "jointly maintain stability in the border area".

Ties between Myanmar and China soured this year over fighting between Myanmar's military and the ethnic Chinese Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army along part of the border.