Myanmar President to Visit Thailand

(18/07/2012)

President Thein Sein of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is scheduled to pay an official visit to Thailand on 22-24 July 2012. The development of the Dawei deep-sea port and industrial zone in Myanmar will be a major topic of discussion during the official visit of the Myanmar President. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Mr. Thein Sein met in Siem Reap on 13 July 2012, when they attended the U.S.-ASEAN Business Forum in Siem Reap province of Cambodia to strengthen the United States and ASEAN business-to-business ties. They shared the view that the development of the Dawei deep-sea port should be upgraded as a project on a government-to-government basis. During his visit to Thailand, President Thein Sein will also be provided with an opportunity to observe the operations of the Laem Chabang deep-sea port in the eastern province of Chon Buri. The Dawei port complex, near the Thai border in Kanchanaburi province, is being developed by a Thai private company. It is one of ASEAN’s largest investment projects, which will create a new trade lane with Thailand’s existing Laem Chabang deep-sea port via its western border province of Kanchanaburi. The trade lane will enable the Greater Mekong Subregion countries to gain access to a new trade route toward the West. The Greater Mekong Subregion comprises Cambodia, southern China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Prime Minister Yingluck asked the Myanmar President to take good care of Thai villagers being detained in Myanmar. President Thein Sein reaffirmed that his government would treat them fairly. Almost 50 Thai villagers have reportedly established a community and farm across the Thai border in Myanmar without permission. Prime Minister Yingluck expressed her admiration for the democratic development in Myanmar. Thailand earlier issued a statement congratulating the government and the people of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar for the successful and smooth by-elections in April 2012.The statement also reaffirmed Thailand’s support for Myanmar in its reforms and development efforts. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, in his recent meeting with his counterpart U Wunna Maung Lwin, discussed preparations for the official visit of President Thein Sein to Thailand on 22-24 July 2012. They agreed to expedite the conclusion of pending memoranda of understanding, so that they could be signed during the visit. They also discussed proposals to open additional international checkpoints between the two countries to help promote economic, trade, and investment growth and enhance the living conditions of people in the border areas. The checkpoints on the Thai side are located in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, and Ratchaburi.