China is a major ally and arms supplier of the junta and analysts say Beijing also maintains ties with Myanmar ethnic armed groups which hold territory along its border. Some of those groups have seized territory from the junta in northern Shan state, disrupting traffic along a vital trade highway to China.

The trip comes as Myanmar’s military struggles to quell armed resistance from various ethnic minority armed groups and “People’s Defence Forces” which rose up to oppose its power grab.

Relations between Beijing and Naypyidaw have been tested over the junta’s failure to crack down on online scam compounds in Myanmar’s borderlands targeting Chinese citizens. The compounds were staffed by citizens of China and other countries who were often trafficked and forced to work swindling their compatriots in an industry analysts say is worth billions.

Analysts suggest Beijing later gave tacit approval to an offensive by an alliance of ethnic rebel groups across Shan state, which the alliance said was launched partly to root out the scam compounds.

In August China’s foreign minister said Beijing supports the junta’s plan to hold fresh elections and return the conflict-torn country to a “democratic transition”.