Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi raised the issue of the Kachin conflict during talks with Burmese President Thein Sein in Naypyidaw on Monday, according to a report by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. Yang, who previously served as China’s foreign minister, said the Burmese government should “maintain the trend of peace talks” with Kachin rebels and try to “realize eternal peace and stability” on the Sino-Burmese border as soon as possible. Naypyidaw reached a tentative peace agreement with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in late May, but clashes between the two sides continue, say KIA sources.