Soldiers march in a formation during a parade to mark the 76th Armed Forces Day in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, March 27, 2021. (Photo/Xinhua)
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday exchanged views on the Myanmar situation in telephone conversations with Don Pramudwinai, Thai deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and Erywan bin Pehin Yusof, second minister of foreign affairs of Brunei, the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Noting that the forthcoming special meeting of ASEAN leaders is timely and important, Wang said the Chinese side expects the meeting to play a constructive role in de-escalating the Myanmar situation, send out positive messages and be conducive in three respects:
Firstly, the meeting should be conducive to promoting political reconciliation in Myanmar. Whether the Myanmar issue can be properly resolved mainly depends on the country itself, Wang said, adding that the way out is for all parties of Myanmar to seek new understanding through political dialogues within the constitutional and legal framework and continue pushing forward the hard-won democratic transition.
The Chinese side, Wang said, hopes that the meeting can encourage the Myanmar side to put first the overall interests of the country and the people, and send out signals on peaceful reconciliation, with all concerned parties exercising restraint and moving toward each other.
Secondly, the meeting should be conducive to showing ASEAN's constructive role. Since Myanmar is a member of the ASEAN family, ASEAN knows better than any other countries and regional organizations the special national situation of Myanmar, and has better conditions to participate in its problem-solving in a constructive way, Wang noted.
China expects that ASEAN will stick to the "ASEAN way" featuring unity, inclusiveness and consensus through consultations, build unified ground and make a common voice, so as to further demonstrate to the international community that ASEAN has enough political wisdom and collective will to provide Myanmar with constructive assistance, and has enough political courage to safeguard regional peace and stability, as well as the bloc's solidarity and cooperation, Wang said.
Thirdly, he pointed out that the meeting should be conducive to fending off external interference. Practice has shown that wanton suppression of external forces makes no contribution to solving problems of a country's internal affairs. Instead, it would bring turbulence and even deteriorate the situation, further affecting and disrupting regional stability.
China calls on the international community, with an objective and impartial attitude, to do more things to relieve the tense situation in Myanmar, instead of the contrary. At present, the international community should jointly support ASEAN to play its due role in this aspect, he said.
China expects this meeting to make a good start for the "soft landing" of the situation in Myanmar, Wang said, adding that China will continue to support Brunei in fulfilling its duties as the rotating chair of ASEAN, and believes that Thailand, Brunei and other ASEAN countries will play important and unique roles in making the meeting a success.
China will maintain close communication with ASEAN and continue to work with all parties in Myanmar in its own way, Wang said.
