China's foreign ministry says Myanmar's junta and an armed ethnic group have agreed to a ceasefire, brokered by Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said, " The cooling of the situation in northern Myanmar is in the common interests of all parties in Myanmar and countries in the region, and is conducive to the security, stability and development of the China-Myanmar border area."
The spokesperson says the deal between the country's military and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army took effect on Saturday.

The MNDAA is mostly made up of the ethnic Kokang minority based in northern Shan State. The group launched an offensive against the junta in October 2023, along with other armed ethnic forces.
Last January, China brokered another ceasefire between three armed ethnic groups, including the MNDAA, and the military. But that deal broke down within a few months.

February 1st will mark exactly four years since the coup, during which time fighting has never let up.
Earlier this month, Myanmar's military carried out air strikes in the western part of the country, killing about 40 civilians.
As fighting continues between the junta and the other armed ethnic groups, it is unclear whether the latest ceasefire will help stabilize the situation.