While the ASEAN summit in Jakarta lacks a junta representative, China, India and Thailand met generals and ministers from Myanmar’s regime to discuss bilateral cooperation.
On Monday, China’s Vice Admiral Liu Zizhu visited Myanmar’s chief of the general staff, General Maung Maung Aye, in Naypyitaw. They reportedly discussed military cooperation, border stability and the rule of law.
Major General Yang Yang of China’s intelligence bureau, met the junta’s deputy leader, Soe Win, on May 30.
China has remained a major ally and arms supplier to the junta since the 2021 coup.
At least nine junta ministers flew to China over the past month for meetings. The deputy prime minister and planning and finance minister Win Shein last week attended the Quality Conference hosted by China in Chengdu, where he invited investment in Myanmar’s electricity and energy sectors.
Indian ambassador to Myanmar Vinay Kumar met Win Shein and foreign minister Than Swe, transport and communications minister, General Mya Tun Oo, and the electricity minister, former major general Nyan Tun, on Monday.
Kumar discussed the promotion of friendship, how to increase border trade and the implementation of other bilateral projects, closer cooperation in ASEAN, the United Nations and other international arenas, cooperation in electricity, including cross-border power lines and capacity-building training for junta ministry staff.
The Thai ambassador to Myanmar, Mongkol Visitstump, also met Nyan Tun to discuss electricity cooperation and cross-border power lines.
The ambassador also held talks on Monday on technology transfers and cooperation in the exploration and distribution of oil and gas.
Myanmar has suffered from serious power outages since the 2021 coup. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has admitted that the troubled power supply is a challenge for his regime. The current production meets around 50 percent of national demand.
Despite international condemnation of the regime, India, China and Thailand have stepped up their cooperation with Myanmar’s generals since earlier this year.
