China, Myanmar hold strategic security consultation

NAY PYI TAW, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Qi Jianguo, a senior officer of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), hoped Myanmar may properly settle the issue of ethnic Kachin group through peaceful means as well as safeguard the tranquility along the China-Myanmar border areas.

He made the remarks at the first Strategic Security Consultation between armed forces of China and Myanmar here on Sunday.

During the meeting, Qi, deputy chief of the PLA General Staff Headquarters, and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar's Defense Services and Commander-in-Chief of the Army General Soe Win exchanged views in depth on the regional security status and bilateral relations between the two countries and the two armed forces.

Qi said that the successful holding of the first strategic security consultation signified that the relations between the two armed forces are entering into a new stage.

China would like, along with Myanmar on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual interest, to continuously promote the relations with the aim of consolidating and developing the neighborly friendly relation between the two countries and contributing to the peace and stability in the region.

Qi also met with Speaker of Myanmar's parliamentary House of Representatives U Shwe Mann and Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing respectively.

U Shwe Mann said that the Myanmar-China Pauk-Phaw friendship has withstood the test of time and no matter how the international climate and each country's domestic status changes, maintaining friendly relations with China is always Myanmar people's firm choice.

Vice Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing also held that the Myanmar- China strategic security consultation mechanism is to bring ties between the two armed forces closer, which is also an important move to strengthen strategic communication and the practical cooperation.

He believed that the relations between the two countries and between the two armed forces would continuously get consolidated and developed through joint efforts of the two sides.

After weeks of intense fighting near the border with China, The Myanmar government on Friday announced a cease-fire, to start Saturday, in its offensive against ethnic Kachin armed group. The government also said it would pursue peace talks to settle the issue.

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