Myanmar’s State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi is scheduled to make a four-day visit to China from August 17.
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China is the first country outside of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to which Myanmar belongs, for Suu Kyi to pay an official visit, highlighting the priority Myanmar is placing on its northern neighbour.
Aung San Suu Kyi visited China in June 2015 as chair of the NLD.
Myanmar’s State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi will visit China from today (Aug 17) to Sunday.
Chinese leaders will meet with her and exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. She is scheduled to head to the United States next month.
Second, the visit comes days before Myanmar’s planned high-level peace talks among ethnic armed groups, the government and the military – entitled the 21st Century Panglong conference – under Suu Kyi’s leadership.
Elements in China have for years maintained contacts with northern Myanmar rebel groups and militias, some of which are led by ethnic Chinese commanders, so China’s help could be key as Suu Kyi’s government seeks to promote peace and stability in lawless border regions.
The former Myanmar government and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15 signed the Nationwide Cease fire Accord (NCA) on October 15, 2015, leaving seven other armed groups who are yet to sign the accord. China’s support is crucial for the success of the conference, initiated by Ms Suu Kyi herself. The draft resolution called on Myanmar to release all political prisoners, begin widespread dialogue with opposition groups and end its military attacks and human rights abuses against ethnic minorities.
China remains the biggest foreign investor in Myanmar and signs have emerged that the new NDL-led government would continue to lean on China economically.
About 90 percent of the dam’s power would have gone to China.
Ji Qiufeng, a professor of global relations at Nanjing University, said Suu Kyi has made a smart choice by visiting China first, ahead of other non-Asean countries.
Things are likely to be different when Suu Kyi visits the U.S.in September.
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It could also be seen as evidence that she has abandoned her role as an activist, democratic icon and a champion of human rights.
