Wang Yi meets Southeast Asian officials in diplomatic push
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met separately with officials from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar on Tuesday, as Beijing seeks to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian neighbours. Wang expressed support for Myanmar's political reconciliation and called for enhanced cooperation with Thailand on combating
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met separately with officials from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar on Tuesday, as the world's second largest economy moves to expand relations with its Southeast Asian neighbours, according to statements released by China's foreign ministry.
Wang said that China supported Myanmar's government in achieving political reconciliation. China's support could be particularly valuable for Myanmar, where officials are responding to an ongoing civil war that began after a 2021 coup led by a former general. The United Nations estimates the conflict has killed 100,000 people and displaced more than 3.5 million.
Wang also said that Thailand and China should boost efforts to tackle gambling and telecommunications fraud. Thailand and China have worked to combat fast-growing networks of illegal call centres along the Thai border with Myanmar and Cambodia, often staffed by trafficked workers, that aim to defraud people in phone and online scams.
Details of the meeting with the Laotian official were not disclosed in the statements released by China's foreign ministry.