Chinese envoy visits Myanmar, urges junta officials to implement peace plan

Name: Joy and sorrow as Myanmar junta frees political prisoners detained in anti-coup protests
Uploaded: 2021-11-17T11:00:24.000Z
Duration: 2 min 19 s
Description: Joy and sorrow as Myanmar junta frees political prisoners detained in anti-coup protests

Sun Guoxiang has made his second trip to the crisis-hit country since the military seized power in February

He met the junta chief and two ministers, but it’s not clear if he was able to see ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Reading Time:2 minutes

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Chinese envoy Sun Guoxiang (left) meets Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during a previous visit to Myanmar in 2018. This week’s trip is China’s latest bid to help ease the crisis in the neighbouring country. Photo: Handout

Laura Zhou

Published: 7:00pm, 17 Nov 2021Updated: 10:25pm, 17 Nov 2021

China has sent a special envoy to Myanmar, its latest effort to help ease the political crisis in the neighbouring country nearly 10 months after a military takeover.

Sun Guoxiang, Beijing’s special envoy for Asian affairs, visited the capital Naypyidaw on Monday, according to China’s foreign ministry.

He held separate meetings with the junta’s leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin and Union Minister Lieutenant General Yar Pyae.

It was Sun’s second trip to Myanmar since the military seized power on February 1, toppling Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. The coup sparked widespread protests that were met with lethal force and the military now faces armed resistance against its rule.

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Joy and sorrow as Myanmar junta frees political prisoners detained in anti-coup protests

In a statement on the trip on Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China supported all parties in Myanmar to seek political settlement through dialogue under the country’s constitutional and legal framework.

“China actively supports Myanmar, an important member of the Asean family, in working together with Asean to implement the five-point consensus on Myanmar reached by Asean,” he said.

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