The long-awaited talks in the capital Naypyidaw, which follow a similar meeting of key political figures in October, come as the country braces for elections seen as a key test of recent reforms in the former junta-run nation.
The President’s office director Zaw Htay said the discussions would likely include maintaining order around the elections, slated for November, as well as details of a landmark draft ceasefire agreement with multiple ethnic armed groups last week.
“There could be disagreement, it’s impossible to be of one mind. But the more meetings there are, the more the talks can find common ground to benefit the people,” he told AFP, adding that army chief Min Aung Hlaing was expected to attend the meeting.
Suu Kyi declined to comment on the talks when approached by AFP in parliament before the meeting, but her opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party confirmed she would attend. It did not give further details of the content of the discussions.
The NLD is expected to hoover up votes in November’s election, the first countrywide poll that the party will have contested in 25 years.
Despite her star power, Suu Kyi is barred from the top job under a provision in the junta-era constitution barring those with a foreign spouse or children from the presidency. The 69-year-old’s two sons are British, as was her late husband.
The President’s office director Zaw Htay said the discussions would likely include maintaining order around the elections, slated for November, as well as details of a landmark draft ceasefire agreement with multiple ethnic armed groups last week.
“There could be disagreement, it’s impossible to be of one mind. But the more meetings there are, the more the talks can find common ground to benefit the people,” he told AFP, adding that army chief Min Aung Hlaing was expected to attend the meeting.
Suu Kyi declined to comment on the talks when approached by AFP in parliament before the meeting, but her opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party confirmed she would attend. It did not give further details of the content of the discussions.
The NLD is expected to hoover up votes in November’s election, the first countrywide poll that the party will have contested in 25 years.
Despite her star power, Suu Kyi is barred from the top job under a provision in the junta-era constitution barring those with a foreign spouse or children from the presidency. The 69-year-old’s two sons are British, as was her late husband.