China backs Myanmar junta’s census-plus-election plan to end turmoil
- Chinese foreign minister urges other countries in the region to support the proposal and push for ‘peaceful reconciliation’
“We support Myanmar in achieving domestic political reconciliation within the framework of its constitution … and restarting the process of democratic transition through elections,” Wang said in the Thai city of Chiang Mai on Friday.
The foreign minister was in Thailand for a meeting with his counterparts from the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) forum, a grouping that also includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.
During the LMC meeting, Wang repeatedly highlighted China’s concerns over crime – including gambling, human trafficking and online scam syndicates – at borders with the countries. The countries agreed to hold a ministerial-level meeting this year to address such non-traditional security threats in the region.
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Myanmar’s military government lost direct control over 86% of its territory after months of fighting