Myanmar's military chief to visit China to attend SCO summit, state media says

Myanmar's military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Russia, March 4, 2025
Reuters

Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing will travel to China to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, state media reported on Thursday, ahead of the country’s first election in almost five years-a vote backed by Beijing.

The Southeast Asian nation has been gripped by turmoil since the military seized power from the democratically elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup, sparking an armed resistance and a civil conflict that has spread across much of the country.

According to Myawaddy TV, Min Aung Hlaing will attend the summit in Tianjin, opening on Sunday, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In addition to meeting Xi and other leaders present at the gathering, he is also scheduled to hold talks with Chinese officials and visit other parts of the country, the military-run broadcaster said.

Myanmar is set to hold the first stage of its general election on 28 December, with voting to take place in more than 300 constituencies, including some currently under the control of armed groups opposed to the junta.

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