Even though Myanmese government forces have announced a cease-fire in the fight against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in northern Myanmar on January 19, fighting continued on the frontlines.

Since breaking out again at the end of 2012, the serious military conflict between the Myanmese military and the KIA has lasted for about one month.

The battlefield of the Myanmese government forces and the KIA is separated by only a river from Southwest China's Yingjiang county, Yunnan Province. For a long time, local residents of the two nations have close relations and frequent exchanges.

However, the military conflict in northern Myanmar ruined the peace of the Sino-Myanmese border. It has directly threatened Chinese border residents' everyday lives and the local social order. Meanwhile, it has adversely affected Sino-Myanmese border trade and Chinese traders have suffered great losses. As Myanmar's neighbor, China is more eager to see a comprehensive cease-fire than any other country.

In fact, China, acting as a mediator, has done much to promote national reconciliation between Myanmese government and the KIA, including providing a forum for negotiations at the request of both sides. Talks have been held in China at least three times, including the latest one in October 2012.

China is promoting Myanmar's national reconciliation through real actions to construct a harmonious borderland which is in the interests of two peoples.

However, as China is working for a cease-fire, some Myanmese media outlets and forces who oppose Sino-Myanmese friendship have stabbed China in the back.

They claimed that the Myanmese military forces' offensive against the KIA was incited and supported by China, and that Myanmese military forces attacked the KIA by using China's airspace.

Although these rumors are not worth refuting, their effects cannot be underestimated in Myanmar where people are not well-informed due to low levels of Internet access. This makes us more aware of the complexity of Myanmar's domestic situation.

Since the end of military government, Myanmar has actively carried out reform and opening-up policies. But its reforms face many obstacles, and ethnic issues are one of the most prominent problems.

Myanmar has many ethnic minorities, and ethnic confrontations have long been a problem and erupt from time to time. Take the recent battles in northern Myanmar as an example, where the newly established government did not resolve its conflict with the KIA, but intensified it instead. How to properly and correctly solve the ethnic issues is one of the critical points that decide the future of Myanmar's reform.

Under the circumstances of escalating conflicts between the Myanmese military and the KIA, China should carry out all-round mediation using its status as an adjacent nation.

In fact, the Chinese government has paid great attention to Myanmar's situations. It sent Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying as a special envoy to meet Myanmese President Thein Sein in Yangon on January 19.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of the PLA General Staff Qi Jianguo attended the first Sino-Myanmese strategic security consultation in Myanmar on January 20. A Chinese government economic and trade delegation led by Vice Minister of Commerce Chen Jian also arrived in Myanmar in mid-January.

The fact that high officials from Chinese diplomatic, military, and economic and trade circles all appeared in Myanmar fully demonstrates China's emphasis on its neighbor's situation.

Apart from mediation between Myanmese government forces and the KIA, China ought to strengthen ties with Myanmar's various political forces, including the opposition, ethnic armed groups and so on.

Besides, through Chinese and Myanmese media and other channels, China should express to more Myanmese that it sincerely supports Myanmar's reforms and wishes sound development in Sino-Myanmese relations as well as a prosperous Myanmar.

In this way, China can play a more active role in promoting progress in Myanmar and the smooth development of Sino-Myanmese relations.

The author is a researcher at Yunnan Academy of South East Asian and South Asian Studies. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn