Beijing announced on Friday that it had mediated a formal ceasefire in northern Myanmar, in China's latest show of influence in the war-ridden neighbouring country.
The ceasefire agreement between the Myanmar junta and a coalition of ethnic militias was reached after a series of meetings in Kunming, the Chinese foreign ministry said. The city is the capital of China's southwestern Yunnan province bordering Myanmar.
Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said representatives of Myanmar's military government and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army took part in the negotiations over Wednesday and Thursday. The rebel groups are together also known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance.
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"The two sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire, ... to disengage military personnel, to resolve relevant disputes and claims through peaceful negotiations, to commit themselves not to jeopardise the safety of the people in the Chinese border and personnel in the Chinese projects in Myanmar," Mao said.
Mao urged the two sides to "earnestly implement the ceasefire agreement reached, exercise maximum restraint, continue to resolve the issues through dialogue and consultation, and jointly promote progress in the peace process in northern Myanmar".
China, meanwhile, would "continue to provide support and assistance within its capacity and to play a constructive role in this regard".
Myanmese news portal The Irrawaddy quoted a source as saying the peace deal took effect on Thursday night.
An anonymous TNLA leader told Reuters that the latest talks - the third round since December - were facilitated by Deng Xijun, China's special envoy for Asian affairs.
"From the [alliance's] side, the agreement is to refrain from offensive attacks on enemy camps or towns. From the military side, the agreement is not to engage in attacks through air strikes, bombardment, or heavy weapons," the leader, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters.
How long the ceasefire holds remains to be seen. The first round of China-brokered talks in early December resulted in a truce that lasted just days. As violence broke out again, the rebel coalition seized several regions in Myanmar's northern border state of Shan.