China kept Myanmar junta chief away from BRI forum

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

China's decision against inviting Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to the third Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum in Beijing this week was part of its diplomatic optics to avoid global criticism.
It however sent invitation to Junta Deputy Prime Minister and Transport and Communications Minister General Mya Tun Oo for attending the forum.

Tun Oo was accompanied on the trip by Minister of Union Government Office (2) KoKo Hlaing, who previously served as an advisor to former President Thein Sein.

While Beijing invited Taliban to mainstream the group it did not pay heed to senior representatives of the junta and its governing State Administration Council who lobbied hard for months with Beijing to secure an invitation for Min Aung Hlaing, ET has learnt.
Desperate to establish itself as a responsible global power, China chose to ignore Hlaing.

In 2019, Xi invited the now ousted and jailed civilian leader of the National League for Democracy government, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to the second BRI Forum.
Hlaing has already been barred from summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since the 2021 coup.

By not adding his name in the guest list for a high-level international event China has given a clear signal to the coup leader that it will not compromise with its image for him, according to observers.
Experts said that China was concerned about the negative publicity that would have come from inviting the junta leader to a high-profile event which was attended by a representative of the Taliban.

Besides, China is irritated by cyber scams which have harmed its interest. China this year pressurized Myanmar's junta to take action against cyber scams, which the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs says have