A TNLA leader said the meeting went well and there are plans to meet again soon to find a solution to end the conflict affecting northern Shan State and Kachin State.

Armed groups that are fighting with the Myanmar Army recently met with representatives from the government’s National Reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC) to discuss a bilateral ceasefire in the Myanmar border town Muse near China.

Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) Brig Gen Tar Bone Kyaw told SHAN the meeting went well. They plan to meet again in the third week of May and find a solution to end the conflict plaguing northern Shan State and Kachin State.

Clashes between the Tatmadaw and Northern Alliance groups leading up to the meeting weren’t discussed, Tar Bone Kyaw said.

“We talked about how to move forward with a bilateral ceasefire agreement and what points should be included,” he said, adding there needs to be further discussion about this.

U Zaw Htay, State Counsellor Office director general and government spokesperson, confirmed with reporters that they will meet again in May to continue discussions about a bilateral ceasefire.

“We agree to meet again as soon as possible,” U Zaw Htay said.

The Myanmar Army announced a two-month extension of its four-month unilateral ceasefire after the meeting ended.

Myanmar Army Brig Gen. Zaw Min Tun, also a member of Tatmadaw’s True News Information team, told reporters in Naypyitaw the decision to extend the truce depended on the outcomes of the meeting in Muse.

Representatives of United Wa State Army and Shan State Progressive Party/ Shan State Army attended the meeting as observers.