A senior Chinese official has said that his government does not have any “special interest” in supporting Myanmar’s peace process, according to a report in The Irrawaddy. Chinese Special Envoy Sun Guoxiang reportedly told reporters in Nay Pyi Taw that Beijing is urging all parties to hold negotiations, but only because it wants to see peace and security in Myanmar. He said that, as a neighbor, a peaceful Myanmar would be beneficial to Myanmar. Sun was in Nay Pyi Taw for the third 21st Century Panglong Union Peace Conference (UPC), which was held in the capital from July 11 to 16. China has played a crucial role in Myanmar’s peace process, and one of its most important interventions came at the second UPC in May last year, when it encouraged members of the Wa-led Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) to attend and meet with government officials. FPNCC members also attended the most recent summit and met with Commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
