Senior officials from the United Nations and China have told armed ethnic groups meeting at Laiza in Kachin State that they are ready to assist in efforts to ensure the success of negotiations for a nationwide ceasefire.
The UN special envoy on Myanmar, Mr Vijay Nambiar, and Mr Tao Yang, from the United Nations Affairs department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, who are attending the meeting as observers, offered their help on July 28.
The meeting is being attended by senior officials from the 16 armed groups represented on the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordinating Team, which has been involved in negotiations with the government on a ceasefire since November 2013.
The NCCT called the meeting the discuss the ceasefire draft agreed with the government's Union-level Peace Work Committee at talks in Yangon in May.
Mr Nambiar acknowledged the progress made in the negotiations and offered to do what he could to improve their chances of success.
Referring to Mr Nambiar's Indian nationality, Mr Tao said it was in the interests of their respective countries to help deliver peace to Myanmar because a lack of internal stability affected its economic development and ability to trade with its neighbours.
The meeting in Laiza was scheduled to take place from July 25 to 27, but was extended by one and a half days.
