Bangkok: myanmarThe military government on Monday hosted the first high-level regional meeting since the military took over with China’s foreign minister last year. wang The equivalent of the Yi and Mekong Delta nations.
State broadcaster MRTV reported that Wang, along with his partners from Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam under the theme “Solidarity for Peace and Prosperity” at the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Group meeting, included the central city of Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Had a meeting. site.
TV reports showed Wang and other foreign ministers elbowing in a show of solidarity before the start of the meeting, but did not provide further details.
The grouping is a Chinese-led initiative involving countries in the Mekong Delta, a potential source of regional tensions due to the increasing number of hydroelectric projects that are altering flows and raising concerns of ecological damage. China has built 10 dams in the upper part of the Mekong, which it calls Lancang.
China has been criticized for dams on the Mekong River that affect water levels and downstream fisheries that are vital to the economies of many Southeast Asian countries.
The spokesman for the military government, Major General. zo min tun Last Friday, the ministers were expected to sign several agreements. He said the presence of foreign ministers is a recognition of Myanmar’s sovereignty and its government.
China is Myanmar’s largest trading partner and longstanding ally. Beijing has invested billions of dollars in Myanmar’s mines, oil and gas pipelines and other infrastructure and, like Russia, is its major arms supplier.
Many in Myanmar suspect China of supporting a military takeover, and Beijing has refused to condemn the military’s power grab. China says that it follows a policy of non-interference in the affairs of other countries.
Myanmar’s shadow national unity government, which opposes the ruling Military Council, has opposed the Bagan meeting, saying any such attempt in partnership with Myanmar’s military violates the will of the people and undermines community building. .
It said the meeting in Myanmar was in direct opposition to a peace plan by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Myanmar’s rulers have disrupted ASEAN’s efforts to hold a meeting with ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was recently taken into solitary custody.
Suu Kyi’s expulsion in February 2021 triggered widespread peaceful protests, which soon turned into armed resistance, and the country slipped into what some UN experts characterize as a civil war.
A statement from China’s foreign ministry said Wang on Sunday met with Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon – who is also ASEAN’s special envoy to Myanmar.
The statement said Wang told Praak Sokhon that China is working with ASEAN to advance Myanmar in the pursuit of political reconciliation and realizing the vision of resuming the democratic transition process and returning power to the people. hopes to encourage. It said China supports Myanmar in its pursuit of a development path suited to its national conditions.
The state-run Myanmar Allin Daily reported that Wang also met with Myanmar’s foreign minister on Sunday. Wunna Maung Lwin To discuss the implementation of bilateral projects and closer cooperation.
According to China’s official Xinhua news agency, Wang told Wunna Maung Lwin that China would assist Myanmar in defending its legitimate interests and national dignity in the international arena.
State broadcaster MRTV reported that Wang, along with his partners from Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam under the theme “Solidarity for Peace and Prosperity” at the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Group meeting, included the central city of Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Had a meeting. site.
TV reports showed Wang and other foreign ministers elbowing in a show of solidarity before the start of the meeting, but did not provide further details.
The grouping is a Chinese-led initiative involving countries in the Mekong Delta, a potential source of regional tensions due to the increasing number of hydroelectric projects that are altering flows and raising concerns of ecological damage. China has built 10 dams in the upper part of the Mekong, which it calls Lancang.
China has been criticized for dams on the Mekong River that affect water levels and downstream fisheries that are vital to the economies of many Southeast Asian countries.
The spokesman for the military government, Major General. zo min tun Last Friday, the ministers were expected to sign several agreements. He said the presence of foreign ministers is a recognition of Myanmar’s sovereignty and its government.
China is Myanmar’s largest trading partner and longstanding ally. Beijing has invested billions of dollars in Myanmar’s mines, oil and gas pipelines and other infrastructure and, like Russia, is its major arms supplier.
Many in Myanmar suspect China of supporting a military takeover, and Beijing has refused to condemn the military’s power grab. China says that it follows a policy of non-interference in the affairs of other countries.
Myanmar’s shadow national unity government, which opposes the ruling Military Council, has opposed the Bagan meeting, saying any such attempt in partnership with Myanmar’s military violates the will of the people and undermines community building. .
It said the meeting in Myanmar was in direct opposition to a peace plan by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Myanmar’s rulers have disrupted ASEAN’s efforts to hold a meeting with ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was recently taken into solitary custody.
Suu Kyi’s expulsion in February 2021 triggered widespread peaceful protests, which soon turned into armed resistance, and the country slipped into what some UN experts characterize as a civil war.
A statement from China’s foreign ministry said Wang on Sunday met with Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon – who is also ASEAN’s special envoy to Myanmar.
The statement said Wang told Praak Sokhon that China is working with ASEAN to advance Myanmar in the pursuit of political reconciliation and realizing the vision of resuming the democratic transition process and returning power to the people. hopes to encourage. It said China supports Myanmar in its pursuit of a development path suited to its national conditions.
The state-run Myanmar Allin Daily reported that Wang also met with Myanmar’s foreign minister on Sunday. Wunna Maung Lwin To discuss the implementation of bilateral projects and closer cooperation.
According to China’s official Xinhua news agency, Wang told Wunna Maung Lwin that China would assist Myanmar in defending its legitimate interests and national dignity in the international arena.