China hosted the 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Kunming, Yunnan Province, on September 16–17, bringing together more than 200 representatives from 165 media organisations across 87 countries.

Among the participants were Myanmar social media personalities Dr. Sein Phyo Hlaing and Yi Yi Pwint Phyu, who shared images from the event on Facebook on September 17. Their participation has since drawn a wave of criticism inside Myanmar.

Critics argue that online influencers risk legitimising Beijing’s Belt and Road projects, which have faced widespread opposition in Myanmar due to environmental damage, land confiscation, and ongoing conflict in areas slated for development.

“Are they even aware of the impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative and the situation in the regions of Myanmar where these projects will pass through? Specifically, the environmental destruction in northern Shan State and the local people’s loss of land without receiving any benefits — someone famous online cannot fix any of this,” said a youth activist from northern Shan State.

According to posts on the couple’s Facebook page, “SEIN PHYO & YI,” they attended the Modern Silk Road Media Cooperation Forum and the Internet Celebrity Alliance Opening Ceremony for South and Southeast Asia, events organised by the Yunnan provincial government.

The siblings, who have over 1.7 million followers on Facebook, are also related to Zay Thiha, the owner of Zay Kabar Company, and actress Nandar Hlaing, further fuelling speculation about possible business interests tied to BRI projects and the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC).

Critics have also linked their participation to Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to China between August 30 and September 6, during which the junta leader met President Xi Jinping and signed seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on infrastructure, media, trade, and natural resources.

A key agreement was the proposed Mandalay–Muse railway, part of the CMEC, which would connect to China’s Beijing–Kunming–Ruili high-speed rail line. Analysts warn the project faces major obstacles as the planned route cuts through war-torn northern Shan State, an area controlled by multiple ethnic armed organisations.