Beijing, Oct 3 (PTI) - The son of Myanmar's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Kim Aris, has made a public plea to Chinese President Xi Jinping to exert pressure on Myanmar's military junta to secure his mother's release. Kim Aris, 48, who typically avoids political matters, has recently been urging global leaders to take action to free his 80-year-old mother, who is reportedly experiencing heart-related health issues. "I appeal to President Xi Jinping to call for her release and to do more to put pressure on the junta... to make sure that those who should be freed are freed," Aris is quoted as saying by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. He mentioned that he has information suggesting China has been advocating for Suu Kyi's release. Aris noted Chinese officials are eager to see Suu Kyi and have been requesting access, though they haven't been granted it, similar to others who have been denied access. Aris has invited external parties to attempt to see her, saying, "then at least someone could confirm she is alive." He expressed his ongoing concern for his mother's well-being, citing the dire conditions of prison life. Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent a cumulative total of 19 years in detention since 1989, initially under house arrest and now in solitary confinement, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. She held the positions of State Counsellor of Myanmar and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2016 to 2021, during which she maintained close relations with China. Her arrest and subsequent removal from power occurred amid a military coup in 2021. Aris believes Suu Kyi maintained a "better relationship with China" than the current junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, who orchestrated the coup against her and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Aris elaborated on the previous strong and productive engagement with China under Suu Kyi's leadership, emphasizing the importance she placed on this relationship for Myanmar's development. President Xi's visit to Myanmar in 2020, where he met with Suu Kyi, resulted in 33 agreements to enhance projects associated with the Belt and Road Initiative, China's initiative to expand global trade. These included the advancement of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, a deep-sea port in Rakhine state, and a new city project in Yangon. Prior to this, Suu Kyi had visited China in 2015 and 2016. China remains Myanmar's second-largest foreign investor, contributing over USD 7.7 billion in the 2024-25 financial year and more than USD three billion so far in the 2025-26 financial year.
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