More than 30 political parties were represented at a meeting held in Yangon on September 3 for preliminary talks on the political dialogue due to begin after a national ceasefire agreement is signed.

The meeting at the Green Hill Hotel was organised by the National Brotherhood Federation, a coalition of ethnic political parties that established the Federal Union Party in December 2013.

NBF deputy chairman U Saw Than Myint said all 67 registered political parties would be invited to further preliminary talks on September 13 and 14.

National Democratic Front chairman U Khin Maung Swe said future meetings would focus on agreeing a framework for the political dialogue.

"The fundamental points will be the emergence of a democratic and federal union and providing for self-administration,” he said.

U Han Shwe, an executive committee member of the National Unity Party, told Mizzima he was looking forward to participating in future meetings.

He expected discussion at the meeting to include who will participate in drafting the framework and the concerns of ethnic national groups.

The chairman of the Unity and Peace Party, U Aung Than Tint, expressed disappointment that the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party and the National League for Democracy were not represented at the September 3 meeting.

The leaders of ethnic minority parties hoped to see the two parties represented at future meetings, he said.