Nov 04, V7N- Myanmar's junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, is set to visit China this week, marking his first trip there since seizing power in a 2021 coup. According to state media, the general will attend the Greater Mekong Subregion and Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) summits in Kunming on November 6 and 7. This visit includes a meeting with leaders from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, as well as planned discussions with Chinese authorities aimed at bolstering bilateral ties and promoting economic cooperation.
 
The political landscape in Myanmar has grown increasingly volatile, with resistance fighters and ethnic militias gaining ground against the military since a coordinated offensive last October. This escalation along the Myanmar-China border has raised concerns for China, which has taken steps to close parts of the border and halt some imports into areas now controlled by anti-junta forces. China has deep economic interests in Myanmar, including pipelines, a proposed deep-sea port, and essential rare earth imports.
 
China has maintained a supportive stance toward Myanmar's military-led State Administration Council (SAC) and its transition plans, including the junta’s planned 2024 elections. Beijing has pledged technical aid for a nationwide census—intended to prepare for the election—and other assistance, which some see as tacit endorsement of the junta. This support has sparked frustration among pro-democracy activists, who view China's involvement as an obstacle to democratic progress in Myanmar.
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