China’s top diplomat Wang Yi has pledged Beijing’s firm support for Myanmar in safeguarding its sovereignty and national security during talks with junta leader-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing.
Wang, who is on a regional tour covering Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar, said China aims to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian neighbours amid global “risks” and position itself as a more stable partner compared to the United States.
During his meeting in Naypyitaw, Wang said China supports Myanmar in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and backed by its people, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement released on April 25.
“This year marks the first year of the new Myanmar government’s tenure. Both sides should take this opportunity to continue their traditional friendship and open new prospects for bilateral relations,” Wang said.
Min Aung Hlaing, who took on the presidency in April while continuing his military-backed leadership, was sworn in five years after seizing power in a coup.
China was among the international representatives present at the parliamentary ceremony, which analysts view as a sign of Beijing’s continued support for the military-aligned administration following a tightly controlled election process.
Observers have criticised the recent election, completed in January, as an attempt to legitimise military rule, noting that voting did not take place in areas controlled by rebel groups opposing the junta.
Wang also said China is willing to work with Myanmar to tackle cross-border cybercrime, including illegal online gambling and telecom fraud networks.
Myanmar has in recent years become a major hub for scam operations, with criminal groups initially targeting Chinese victims before expanding globally, resulting in losses estimated in the tens of billions of dollars annually.
