The seventh round of nationwide ceasefire negotiations between the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) and the Union Peace-making Working Committee (UPWC) commenced on the 17 March, at Myanmar Peace Centre in Rangoon. Observers include UN Special Envoy to Myanmar Mr. Vijay Nambiar, Chinese Special Envoy Mr. Wang Ying Fan, and armed groups including RCSS (Restoration Council of Shan State), ABSDF (All Burma Students' Democratic Front), NDAA (National Democratic Alliance Army) and NSCN (National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang).
In their opening speeches, both NCCT and UPWC leaders stated that the ongoing armed conflicts in ethnic areas can only be resolved politically and not by force. In his opening speech, Karen Nation Union General Secretary Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo, and NCCT Deputy Team Leader One said, "The ongoing fighting in the ethnic areas, especially in the Northern part of the country, obstructs our negotiation talks. NCCT has come prepared, and we hope that these talks will be the final talks. These conflicts can only be resolved if we discuss them on the negotiation table".