Chinese ambassador meets Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi attends a ceremony, to mark the 20th anniversary of her receiving the Noble Peace Prize, at a monastery in Rangoon in early December (Reuters)

China’s ambassador to Burma has held talks with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition National League for Democracy, Beijing said.

China also said that State Councillor Dai Bingguo, the top official on foreign affairs, would go to Burma for meetings next week, after a landmark visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to China’s longtime ally.

“The Chinese ambassador met with [Suu Kyi] in response to her request and listened to her opinions,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin.

“Based on the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, the Chinese side engages in contact with all sectors of society.”

Clinton this month became the top US official in more than 50 years to visit Burma, also known as Burma, as she sought to encourage reforms by the government which has opened talks with the opposition and ethnic minorities.

Opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi tried at the time to ease China’s concerns over the trip, saying while appearing next to Clinton in Rangoon that she hoped Burma would have “friendly relations” with its giant neighbour.

Burma’s military-backed leadership has counted on China as its main supporter but many people in Burma resent Beijing’s outsized influence 

credit : DVB news