Chinese President Xi JinpingChinese state media reported that the leaders of 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations met Monday to discuss their concerns. They stated that Beijing will not force its smaller neighbours.

According to state media, the China-ASEAN virtual summit which was held to commemorate 30 years of dialogue would promote regional stability and peace.

China would never seek hegemony nor take advantage of its size to “bully” smaller countries, and would work with ASEAN to eliminate “interference”, Xi said.

According to two people familiar with the event, there was no Myanmar representative at the summit. A spokesperson for Myanmar’s military government didn’t respond to calls for comment.

Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar, the leader of the junta in Myanmar, was excluded from a summit held in October.