PHNOM PENH – No party must be left out in peace talk to end the crisis in Myanmar, Senate President Hun Sen has told the junta chief’s special envoy.

Hun Sen met U Ko Ko Hlaing, Minister for the Ministry of the State Administration Council Chairman’s Office and special envoy of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing on Aug. 1. 

During the meeting, Ko Ko Hlaing described the recent military activities in the country and its election plan.

He told Hun Sen that Myanmar will hold free, fair and just elections to make Myanmar a responsible democracy, according to a post on Hun Sen’s social media.

Hun Sen said that finding a solution to end the war requires the participation of all parties, recalling the effort to solve Cambodia’s civil war.

“Obviously, we cannot abandon any stakeholders, even if we do not want to negotiate with them, as was the case with the Khmer Rouge in the 1980s and 1990s,” he said.

He urged Myanmar’s military government to consider all military, political and diplomatic activities to seek peace without abandoning any party and to carefully consider sending its non-political representatives to ASEAN meetings to avoid vacant seats and maintain access to other forums of which the Myanmar side is a member and is represented.

Myanmar has sent non-political representative to the recent ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat Meeting in Lao.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since a military coup in 2021. The country faces a deeper crisis as armed ethnic groups advance across the country.

On July 31, the junta extended a state of emergency for six months, causing uncertainty over its pledge to hold general elections.

Hun Sen expressed appreciation on Myanmar for its trust in Cambodia. He said that Cambodia has no strategic, political or economic interest in its effort to solve the crisis. 

“Cambodia’s only intention is not to see the people of Myanmar suffer the tragedy and suffering of a protracted war because Cambodia has already gone through it,” he said.

Hun Sen held virtual talks with Min Aung Hlaing in May and sought a meeting with ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The regime denied the request.