BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar apologized to China on Thursday over a Myanmar warplane's fatal bombing of southwest China's Yunnan Province earlier this month.
The plane crossed China's border on March 13 and dropped a bomb on Lincang, killing five Chinese and injuring eight others. The border area is being patrolled by Chinese troops as Myanmar confronts rebels on its side of the border.
"On behalf of the Myanmar government and military, I officially apologize to China and express my deep sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured," said Myanmar Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin during talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
"Myanmar is willing to keep in touch with China over compensation for the victims and injured and make proper arrangements," he said. "Myanmar will ensure those involved in the incident are accountable for and published in accordance with law, and we will strengthen domestic management to prevent similar incidents from happening."
Wang said both sides now have a clear understanding of the incident and those who should be held accountable for it after the two sides' joint investigation and rounds of talks. He urged Myanmar to take this incident seriously and "properly deal with it so as to protect bilateral ties".
Also on Thursday, Aung Than Htut, commander of the Second Special Operation Bureau, Headquarters of the Myanmar Armed Forces, apologized on behalf of the Myanmar military.
"Your visit shows Myanmar's great attention to our bilateral ties and military-to-military relations and sincerity to properly handle the incident," said Fang Fenghui, chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, when meeting with Aung Than Htut.
A number of Myanmar military shells and bombs fell within Chinese territory in March, causing heavy casualties, according to Fang. "Myanmar has faced up to the problems and made objective responses and settlement, which is conducive to solving the problems," he added.
Fang called on Myanmar to strictly control military actions on the border.