The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China announced that the Myanmar military and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) signed an official ceasefire agreement on January 18. This agreement has effectively halted fighting near the Myanmar-China border.

Both parties held discussions in Kunming, a city in southwest China, according to Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a regular press briefing on January 20. Mao stated that both sides expressed gratitude for China’s efforts to promote peace.

"The stabilization of the situation in northern Myanmar benefits all relevant organizations in Myanmar and all neighboring countries. It supports security, stability, and the development of the border regions between Myanmar and China," Mao added.

China affirmed its commitment to actively promoting peace and dialogue in northern Myanmar, pledging continued support for the peace process in the region.

The MNDAA is one of several armed ethnic groups fighting the Myanmar military over territories it claims as its own. The MNDAA is part of the "Three Brothers Alliance," a coalition of armed groups that includes the TNLA (Ta’ang National Liberation Army) and the AA (Arakan Army). The alliance launched coordinated offensives against the Myanmar military in late October 2023, capturing territories near the Chinese border.

Although China mediated a ceasefire in northern border areas in January 2024, the truce collapsed a few months later. In July, the MNDAA reportedly seized control of a major military base near the Chinese border.