YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — The latest on landmark elections in Myanmar. (All times local.)
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5:30 p.m.
China, Myanmar’s powerful northern neighbor and a traditional close ally of its military, is praising the conduct of the election and pledging to maintain friendly relations, even while refraining to comment on the outcome.
“As Myanmar’s friendly neighbor, China feels delighted and welcomes this smooth ending,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said following a meeting of Mekong River nations in the southern Chinese province of Yunnan on Thursday.
Wang said: “We are willing to work with Myanmar to maintain stability in the border area.”
Myanmar’s transition to democracy seemingly caught China by surprise, but Beijing has sought to recover by reaching out to the opposition. The ruling Communist Party hosted Aung San Suu Kyi in June, during which she met with China’s president and party leader, Xi Jinping, in a sign of Beijing’s willingness to adapt to the changing political landscape.
China is primarily concerned with resuming the stalled Myitsone dam project in northern Myanmar, as well as stability along the border where Kokang rebels have battled Myanmar government troops.
— By Christopher Bodeen, Beijing
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1:30 p.m.
According to the latest results from Myanmar’s election commission, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition party needs 38 more seats to acquire a majority in the 664-member, two-house Parliament.
Elections were not held in seven constituencies, meaning a simple majority can be reached at 329 seats.
Suu Kyi’s party has won 196 seats in the lower house and 95 in the upper house for a total of 291.
More results are to be announced Thursday afternoon.
The military establishment has not formally conceded defeat but it has acknowledged the massive success of Suu Kyi’s party, and ensured that it will respect the final outcome of last Sunday’s elections.
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This story corrects the number of seats needed for majority and those won so far by Suu Kyi’s party.
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