CRI听力:China, Myanmar first 2+2 High Level Consultations meeting focuses on border security

The 2+2 High Level Consultations meeting is led by the foreign affairs ministries and defense ministries from both countries.

How to maintain border security and reinforce the security in northern Myanmar are the highlights from the agenda.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Zhenmin heads the Chinese delegation.

"Due to the historical problems left over by the British colonizers, nearly half of the area along the China-Myanmar border is not fully controlled by the Myanmar government military, but under the control of the so-called ethnic armed groups. This has led to the situation where China is maintaining control of the border on its side, while on the other side of Myanmar, conflicts and frictions occur every now and then. Therefore, strengthening the control of the China-Myanmar border is crucial to peace and stability in Myanmar as well as in China's Yunnan province."

Yunnan has been receiving several thousand Myanmar nationals from across the border since fighting broke out between several ethnic armed groups and government forces last Sunday.

"The meeting today also sends out clear messages of restoring peace in the conflict area: both China and Myanmar oppose any provocative military operations by any party and hope that peace and tranquility can been restored as soon as possible."

Liu Zhenmin also notes that the Myanmar side has said its military had effectively put the situation under control and the Myanmar nationals fleeing to the Chinese side hopefully will be able to return home soon.

The Chinese vice minister adds that China can only play a supportive role, acting as a mediator to promote peace talks and helping Myanmar facilitate its national reconciliation and peace process.

The next 2+2 High Level Consultations meeting will be held in China next year.