Myanmar's ambassador to China has died on Sunday in the southwestern city of Kunming, according to the Chinese government and an obituary in Myanmar state media.

“I can confirm what you mentioned,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in response to a question about the reported death of Ambassador Myo Thant Pe.

The obituary for the ambassador by Myanmar's foreign ministry in a state newspaper on Monday did not specify his cause of death.

Diplomats in Beijing and a Chinese-language Myanmar media report said the cause was likely to be a heart attack.

U Myo Thant Pe was last seen on Saturday meeting an official in the southwestern province of Yunnan which borders Myanmar, according to a local news report.

Myo Thant Pe had been ambassador to China since 2019, Wang said.

“He dedicated himself to the development of China-Myanmar relations,” he added.

“We express our deep condolences and regret over his sudden passing and our sincere sympathies to his family.” (Agencies)