BEIJING: China's foreign ministry has expressed its support for Myanmar's development and has called on the international community to respect its sovereignty while helping the country to achieve peace and reconciliation.

This statement comes amidst Myanmar's isolation by Western nations since the military coup in 2001, which overthrew the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations across the country.

China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang made a rare trip to Myanmar to meet with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on Tuesday. During the talks, Qin stated that China supports Myanmar in finding its own development path that suits its national conditions.

He also backed relevant parties to address differences and work towards national reconciliation under the country's constitutional and legal framework, while urging the international community to respect Myanmar's sovereignty. Myanmar has been largely isolated by Western countries since the military coup in 2001 that overthrew the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and crushed pro-democracy protests.

China's foreign ministry stated that it supports Myanmar in determining its own development path and urged the international community to respect its sovereignty and help it achieve peace and reconciliation. Chinese Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, who visited Myanmar to meet the junta chief Min Aung Hlaing on Tuesday, expressed China's support for Myanmar to explore a development path that suits its national conditions. Qin also supported Myanmar's political transition process and called for relevant parties to properly address differences and seek national reconciliation under the constitutional and legal framework.

In addition to being a major buyer of Myanmar's resources, China has taken in refugees from the violence in Myanmar. Qin stated that China would accelerate investment linked to a China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and implement projects on agriculture, education, and healthcare.

China's foreign minister has announced that China is supporting Myanmar to strengthen its relationship with its western neighbor, Bangladesh, and the two countries discussed increasing border trade and energy cooperation in recent talks.