China envoy pushes Kachin peace agreement during meeting with Burmese VP

Myanmar's VP Nyan Tun (left) and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi. Photo. facebook/Chinese Embassy in Myanmar

The Chinese state owned Xinhua news agency reported earlier this week that during recent discussions between Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Burma's Vice President Nyan Tun in Naypyitaw the Chinese emissary advocated for a renewed Kachin ceasefire agreement between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and Burma's central government.

According to Xinhua during the meeting which was held on Sunday, “Yang stressed that China supports the reconciliation process with Myanmar nationalities, hoping that the Myanmar government and the Kachin side could maintain the trend of peace talks and reach ceasefire agreement as early as possible. In this regard, China would continue to play a constructive role.” Yang is a senior Chinese diplomat who served as China's Foreign Minister until earlier this year.

China has played an active role in facilitating talks between the KIO and negotiators from Burma's central government since last year when the two sides began to meet regularly in the Chinese border town of Ruili. Chinese government representatives have also attended the last few rounds of talks as observers including the most recent meeting which took place in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina.

According to leaked reports from the peace talks Beijing has also made clear that it does not want representatives of other nations to attend the talks. A stance that contradicts with the KIO's desire to have diplomats from the US and Europe attend as observers.

Nyan Tun currently serves as one of Burma's two vice presidents. During the previous SPDC regime he served as Navy Commander-in-Chief. He is considered to be close to retired strongman Sr. Gen. Than Shwe.

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