The last meeting that took place little over a month ago on Feb. 4, in the same place, was the first time other ethnic armed groups leaders were present as observers. Leaders from the RCSS/SSA and KNU’s General Mutu Say Poe attended.

This time the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) leaders will attend. They include: Zhao Zhongdang;  UWSA deputy commander in chief, Li Julie (U Aung Myint); UWSA central executive committee (CEC) member, unidentified UWSA senior member, NDAA General Secretary Hseng La and Sao Kham Mawng, NDAA CEC member.

 The last meeting was also the first time Chinese government representatives took part as facilitators. China will again play the same role in the upcoming meeting.

Union-level government minister Aung Min, Kachin State Minister for Border and Security Affairs Col. Than Aung, and some high ranking officers of the Burma army northern command will be participating. Burma army leaders were absent from the last one.  They also weren’t at the informal talks that took place in Chiang Mai on Feb. 20 between the government and United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) - a coalition of ethic armed groups that the KIO is a leading member.

Although the last few rounds of peace negotiations have ended on a positive note, nothing firm has been established; fighting continues in some parts of Kachin and northwestern Shan state.

Recently Burma's president Thein Sein told reporters in Austria during a 10 day visit to Europe that fighting in Burma has ended. "There's no more hostilities, no more fighting all over the country, we have been able to end this kind of armed conflict," said Thein Sein during a joint press conference with Austria's President Heinz Fischer last Monday.