China's Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Meets the PPWT in Yangon

Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN) / BNI Online | February 15, 2018

The Peace Process Working Team (PPST) representing eight signatories of the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) met with China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs in Yangon on February 12.

Mr Sun Guoxing, the Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with the PPST at the Chinese embassy in Yangon while he visited Myanmar to attend the NCA signing ceremony of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) as a witness.

The PPWT and Mr Sun Guoxing discussed the situations faced by ethnic people in Myanmar peace process, according to the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army – South (RCSS/SSA)’s secretary -3 Col Sai Ngan.

“He asked what difficulties the ethnic people are facing in Myanmar peace process and how

[China] can assist them. We discussed with him [on this issue]. Besides this [issue], the number of displaced residents is rising due to the Tatmadaw’s offensives against the Northern Alliance in northern Shan State and the Kachin State. We told Mr Sun Guoxing to tell either Myanmar government or the Tatmadaw to stop the offensives immediately when he meets them,” Col Sai Ngan told Shan Herald Agency for News.

The PPST also requested China to assist in involving the Northern Alliance in the peace process and discussed issues on the Rakhine State and the inability to hold national-level political dialogues in line with the NCA in the Shan and Rakhine states .

The Chinese envoy told the PPST that his government is interested in Myanmar peace process and it is ready to give its assistance.

The PPST delegation consists of the Karen National Union (KNU)’s general secretary P’doh Saw Tar Doh Moo, the RCSS/SSA-S’s secretary-3 Col Sai Ngan, the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP)’s central committee member Daw Saw Mra Raza Lin, and the Chin National Front (CNF)’s secretary Salai Thla Hei.

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This article originally appeared on BNI Online on February 15, 2018.