Myanmar junta leader sets Cambodia stop on diplomatic tour

AFP

Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will visit Cambodia, his office said on Tuesday, the next stop on a diplomatic drive reforming his pariah status.

The former junta chief is set to meet acting head of state Hun Sen and his son Prime Minister Hun Manet on a state visit to Cambodia “in the near future”, a statement from Min Aung Hlaing’s office said, without providing a date.

The visit aims to promote “mutually beneficial cooperation” across “economic, cultural and various other sectors”, it added.

Min Aung Hlaing ousted the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 putsch, ending Myanmar’s decade-long experiment with democracy and plunging the country into civil war.

Myanmar’s leaders were persona non grata in many foreign capitals after the coup, but Min Aung Hlaing is making a drive for regional recognition after taking over as president in April.

He retired as military chief to take the civilian role after highly restricted elections that were blocked from rebel-held areas, excluded Suu Kyi’s party and punished dissent with prison time.

While democracy watchdogs described the vote as a charade, countries including China, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos have all welcomed Min Aung Hlaing on recent trips since he took over the office.

AFP