Burma is an International issue: China

http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15341

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By WAI MOE Friday, March 20, 2009

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China’s representative in Geneva has said at the United Nations Human Rights Council that issues of development and national reconciliation in Burma are difficulties and challenges that are in the interests of the entire international community.

“We understand the difficulties and challenges that Myanmar [Burma] is confronted with in domestic development and in promoting national reconciliation, especially in the current rampant financial crisis,” said Yan Jiarong on March 16.

“The stability and development of Myanmar is not only in the interest of the region, [but it is] also the interest of the whole international community,” she added.

The statement was in response to a recent report on Burma’s human rights record by UN Human Rights Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana who visited Burma in February.

China hoped the world would foster a conducive environment for gradually achieving democracy and development in the country, Yan said.



In the past, Beijing regularly refused to be drawn into debate on the Burmese crisis, referring to the matter an internal issue. In a 2007 UN Security Council meeting, China and Russia vetoed a draft resolution on the release of political prisoners in Burma.

However, China appears to be shifting its policy on Burma. It has cooperated on Burmese issues with other countries, such as the United States and the European Union, as well as India and Southeast Asian nations.

China has been the Burmese junta’s closest ally, particularly since 1988. It also sells arms, warships and aircraft to the Burmese regime despite international condemnation.

Chinese officials have visited Burma recently and met with high-ranking generals, including the head of the junta, Snr-Gen Than Shwe. On Wednesday in Naypyidaw, Than Shwe met Chen Bingde, chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Li Changchun, a senior official of the ruling Communist Party of China, left on Friday for a four-country trip of the Asia-Pacific region, where he will also visit Burma.