China hopes all parties concerned in Myanmar can calm ethnic tensions embodied in recent riots through negotiation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Tuesday.
In response to a question concerning China's stance on the riots in the west of Myanmar, Hong said the long-standing issue of local ethic armed forces is the country's internal affair.
"China has always urged all parties in Myanmar to resolve issues through peaceful negotiation and consultation so as to maintain peace and tranquility in the China-Myanmar border area," Hong said at a daily news briefing.
According to Myanmar's official media reports on Monday, the week-long renewed rioting in the country's western state of Rakhine had been controlled by Oct. 27 and the situation there is returning to normalcy.
The death toll from this violent uprising stood at 129 as of Oct. 27.
The riot, which initially spread from Minbya to as many as nine areas covering Mrauk U, Kyauk Phyu, Myaebon, Yathedaung, Kyauktaw, Pauktaw, Yanbye and Thandwe, has left more than 20,000 people homeless, according to local sources.
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