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The leader of Myanmar’s junta is in China for the first time since he took power in a coup more than three years ago. The visit can be seen as an attempt to legitimize the military government.
Major General Min Aung Hlaing is expected to participate in a series of summits from Wednesday the 6th with his counterparts from the countries of the Mekong region. Myanmar’s military says it will also discuss strengthening economic ties with officials in Beijing, Japan reports NHK.
The junta is struggling to maintain power in a protracted battle with pro-democracy forces and armed ethnic minority groups. China shares a border with Myanmar and has brokered peace talks.
Beijing officials place high strategic value on their neighbor. China imports natural resources, including crude oil from the Indian Ocean, and pipelines run through Myanmar.
Since the coup, Myanmar has been in chaos, including areas along the border with China, as an armed resistance movement has joined forces with established ethnic minority militias to wrest control of large territories from the military government, reports Reuters.
Min Aung Hlaing will attend the summits of the Greater Mekong Subregion and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Co-operation Strategy, Acmecs, and join a meeting with Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam on November 6 and 7 in Kunming, reports MRTV: “He will have meetings and discussions with the Chinese authorities and work to improve bilateral relations, the economy and development in various sectors.”
The deterioration of Myanmar’s military, in the face of rapid gains by anti-junta fighters after a surprise offensive last October, alarmed Chinawhich has sealed parts of the border and blocked key imports into rebel-held areas, it continues Reuters.
China has strategic economic interests in Myanmar, including major oil and gas pipelines crisscrossing the country and a planned deep-water port in the Bay of Bengal. Beijing also imports rare earths from its smaller neighbor for use in the automotive and wind power sectors.
The junta launched a national census last month to pave the way for elections next year, despite having no control over large swaths of the country and with dozens of political parties dissolved.
Beijing has promised technical support and aid to the junta for the proposed census and elections, Myanmar state media said in August after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Min Aung Hlaing.
Tommaso Dal Passo
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