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Myanmar gov't, ethnic groups resume peace talks

Representatives from the Myanmar government and armed ethnic groups resumed peace talks in Yangon on March 17 in an effort to finalise a nationwide ceasefire accord, according to the Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Representatives from the Myanmar government and armed ethnic groupsresumed peace talks in Yangon on March 17 in an effort to finalise anationwide ceasefire accord, according to the Chinese news agencyXinhua.

The 7th round of peace talks between thegovernment's Union Peace-Making Work Committee and the 16 armed ethnicgroups' Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team, which began at theMyanmar Peace Centre, will touch on the final eight of 104 points.

A day before resuming peace talks, Myanmar President U Thein Sein,Vice President Sai Mauk Kham and Commander-in-Chief of the DefenceService Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing met separately for the first timewith a special delegation of the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO)in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss peace efforts in the country.

During the meeting, the KIO submitted a peace proposal to thePresident, reaffirming its commitment to the ongoing peace process.

The current talks, originally set for mid-January, were delayed byrenewed clashes between the government forces and the KIO.-VNA
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