Myanmar on Thursday agreed to hand over 155 Chinese nationals jailed for illegal logging as part of a massive amnesty as Beijing piled up pressure on Naypyidaw for their release.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei on Thursday said that Myanmar apprised China of the plan to hand them over on Wednesday. Myanmar on Thursday granted an amnesty to 6,966 prisoners, including 210 foreigners.
Under the terms of the amnesty, all 210 foreign prisoners will be deported from on Thursday, “with a view to maintaining <g data-gr-id="13">friendship</g>.
“We attach high importance to the measures taken by Myanmar,” Hong said.
The Myitkyina court in Kachin State sentenced the 155 loggers to more than 10 years in prison for violating a 1963 law against destroying public property.