China’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, met with Myanmar’s military-backed leader Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on Saturday as part of a regional tour to bolster Beijing’s political, security and strategic ties in Southeast Asia.
State-run MRTV television reported that the two discussed enhancing Myanmar’s international relations and cooperation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The meeting comes after Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as president on April 10 following an election critics say was neither free nor fair, designed to maintain military control five years after the ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government.
China, Myanmar’s biggest trading partner and a longstanding ally, has invested billions in the country’s mines, oil and gas pipelines and other infrastructure, and is a major arms supplier. Beijing is among a small number of countries that openly supported the recent elections and sent congratulatory messages to Min Aung Hlaing.
ASEAN, whose 11 members include Myanmar, did not recognise the elections after most opposition groups were excluded and dissent restricted. Myanmar’s leaders were barred from previous ASEAN meetings for failing to implement a peace plan agreed in April 2021, which called for an end to violence, dialogue and humanitarian aid.
Saturday’s report said the two sides also exchanged views on border stability, trade, cooperation in eliminating cybercrime and Myanmar’s internal peace efforts. China maintains ties with ethnic armed groups near its border, including the “Three Brotherhood Alliance”, which captured large territories in 2023-2024 but saw its advance slowed by China-brokered ceasefires.
