Resolving regional conflicts as a true force in the pursuit of peace

The more China develops, the greater will be its ability to help resolve regional and global conflicts and contribute to regional and world peace and development. After all, China has proved to be an active mediator in various conflicts.

This is no tall claim, there are countless examples, the most recent being the signing of a formal ceasefire agreement in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, between the Myanmar government and Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which came into effect on Saturday. With China mediating, the Myanmar government and MNDAA held their seventh round of peace talks in mid-January, and both parties expressed gratitude for China's efforts to facilitate the successful outcome of the talks.

Being a friendly neighbor, China firmly opposes conflicts in Myanmar, as it knows that this does not serve the common interest of Myanmar and other countries in the region and is also detrimental to the security and stable development of the China-Myanmar border area. That is why China has been brokering the de-escalation of the tense situation in northern Myanmar and hoping that all parties will honor the ceasefire and further resolve relevant issues through negotiation.

The conflicts between the Myanmar government and Kokang and other local armed factions are extremely complicated. Therefore the reaching of a formal ceasefire between the parties concerned under China's mediation is commendable. It not only embodies their trust in China, but also reflects their increasing recognition of China's role as a major power.

China's influence in helping resolve regional disputes extends beyond the region. On July 23 last year, 14 Palestinian factions concluded conciliatory talks in Beijing and jointly signed the Beijing Declaration, aimed at strengthening Palestinian unity.

The declaration was a milestone for those seeking Palestinian statehood. Thanks to China's mediation, even Iran and Saudi Arabia, two major powers in the Middle East that have not seen eye to eye for decades, made peace and restored diplomatic relations in the spring of 2023. China has also been making efforts to bring an early end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and its role has been increasingly recognized by relevant stakeholders.

China has proved that it is a true force in the pursuit of peace, unlike a certain Western country which calls for peace but does everything in private to pursue bloc confrontation.