China calls for international efforts for Myanmar's stability

China's Foreign Ministry Tuesday stressed that all actions by the international community should contribute to Myanmar's political and social stability.

Photo: fmprc.gov.cn

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks when being asked about China's expectations from the United Nation Security Council meeting on the situation in Myanmar following a military takeover.

British Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward, whose country takes over the rotating Security Council presidency for the month of February, earlier announced that the Security Council will hold a virtual meeting to discuss the situation in Myanmar on Tuesday.

"We want to address the long-term threat to peace and security, of course working closely with Myanmar's Asian and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) neighbors," Woodward said on Monday.

Addressing a media conference, Wang said China has kept in contact with the parties concerned on related issues ahead of the Security Council meeting. He reiterated China's position to the issue saying, "China hopes that all sides in Myanmar can appropriately handle their differences under the constitution and legal framework and safeguard political and social stability."

Wang stressed that all actions by the international community should contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Myanmar issue to prevent escalating tensions.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday threatened to reimpose sanctions on Myanmar, calling Myanmar military's move a "direct assault on the country's transition to democracy and rule of law."

Myanmar's political leaders, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, regional and state ministers and some central executive committee members of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), were detained by the military in the early hours of Monday.

The military had demanded the postponement of new parliamentary sessions, claiming that there was massive voting fraud in the November 2020 general elections in which the NLD won the majority of seats in both houses of parliament.