YANGON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Another Shan ethnic armed group, the Shan State Army-North (SSA-North) in Myanmar's northeastern Shan state, has signed initial peace agreements with Myanmar government at both state level and central level, official sources said on Sunday.

The five-point peace pact at state level was signed on Saturday in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan state, by Saung Khun Sarun, representing the SSA-North, and Colonel Aung Thu, Shan State Security and Border Affairs Minister, representing the local government, while another five-point peace pact at central level was inked with peace making group, led by U Aung Thaung, later on the day.

The agreements cover territory designation and opening of economic and liaison offices as well as continued talks at central level, the sources said.

Up to now, seven ethnic armed groups including the present SSA- North out of 11 have reached peace pacts with the government at respective levels. The other six are the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) of SSA-South, the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Shan State (North) Special Region-2 , the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) in Mongla Special Region-4, Koloh Htoo Baw armed group in Kayin state, Chin National Front (CNF) in northwestern Chin state and Kayin National Union (KNU) in Kayin state.

Meanwhile, peace talks between Myanmar's central government and Kachin ethnic armed group, Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), were underway in Ruili, China's southwestern border town in Yunnan Province, for two times over the past two months with no agreement reaching yet.

However, peace-making group of the central government, led by U Aung Thuang, and representatives of the KIO, headed by Swam Luk Gam, issued similar statements on Jan. 19, saying that the peace talks will continue through political means to realize the eternal peace and to decline military acceleration.

The two sides will coordinate matters related to military units of both sides in the hot spots to control military activities and build trust, the statements added.

President U Thein Sein made a peace offer to armed groups in the country on Aug. 18, 2011, calling on anti-government ethnic armed groups to come for peace talks through regional or state level governments to end internal armed insurrection and build internal peace in the country.

Under the president's peace offer, peace making is being carried out in three phases. The first phase is to ceasefire, set up liaison offices and travel without holding arms to each other's territory, while the second phase is confidence building, holding political dialogue, implementing regional development tasks in terms of education, health and communication, and the third phase is to sign agreement for eternal peace in the presence of the parliament represented by nationalities, political parties and different walks of life.