Thai PM welcomes Myanmar President

BANGKOK, July 23 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday morning welcomed visiting Myanmar President Thein Sein, after which the Thai and Myanmar leaders discussed cooperation on several issues, especially on economic affairs, between the two neighbouring countries. Yingluck received the Myanmar President at Bangkok's Government House, during which President Thein Sein, who is paying an official visit to Thailand from July 22-24, inspected guards of honor. The Thai and Myanmar leaders later had their bilateral and full-panel discussions and a press conference and they then signed two memoranda of understanding (MOU) on the development of the Dawei special economic zone project and related projects and on the development of Myanmar’s western seaboard to connect to the eastern seaboard of Thailand. Premier Yingluck and President Thein Sein also signed a joint communiqué to organize energy forums. Premier Yingluck, meanwhile, announced Thailand's support for Myanmar to be the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014 and host the Southeast Asian Games next year. Besides, the Thai prime minister asked the Myanmar President to release Thai nationals who had been lured into encroaching on the Myanmar soil near the Thai border. The Thai prime minister is scheduled to host a dinner reception for the visiting Myanmar President at the Government House. (TNA)