Thailand, Myanmar agree to enhance cooperation

BANGKOK, July 24 (TNA)- Thai and Myanmar leaders have agreed to promote bilateral cooperation between the two neighbouring countries in four areas and to develop connection between Dawei and Laem Chabang Ports. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and visiting Myanmar President Thein Sein held a press conference earlier on Monday, after their bilateral discussions, during which Yingluck affirmed that Thailand is ready to support economic, trade and investment development, as well as solutions to narcotics and illegal migration in Myanmar. Besides, Thailand will cooperate with Myanmar in four areas, including personnel development, Myanmar’s roles as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014, economic and social development and the construction of infrastructure. The Thai prime minister also revealed that Myanmar will host the next meeting of the Thai-Myanmar Joint Committee and set up the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Association. The Thai and Myanmar leaders then witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MOU) on the development of the Dawei economic zone and the development of Myanmar and the signing of a joint communiqué on the organization of energy forums. Premier Yingluck announced that Thailand is ready to support the connection of the Dawei port of Myanmar and the Laem Chabang port of Thailand for the sake of bilateral and regional interests, and that Thailand and Myanmar will form a working group involving relevant ministers to push for the port development next month. According to the Thai prime minister, both countries have also agreed to promote border economic growth by upgrading four temporary border crossings to permanent border crossings, including Baan Huay Ton Moon border crossing in Mae Hong Son province and Baan Kiew Pha Wok border crossing in Chiang Mai province, both in the Thai North, as well as Baan Phu Nam Ron border crossing in Kanchanaburi province in the Thai West and Baan Tako Bon border crossing in adjacent Ratchaburi province. The Thai premier noted that both countries will also jointly develop rice production, and that Thailand is ready to take care of Myanmar workers in Thailand in accordance with laws. President Thein Sein, who is paying an official visit to Thailand from July 22-24, thanked the Thai government for supporting the development of the Myanmar economy, infrastructures and the Dawei deep-sea port, praising the Thai government for supporting the democratization in Myanmar and promised to introduce real democracy to Myanmar. Meanwhile, Thai government Spokesperson Sansanee Nakpong told journalists that the Thai prime minister also discussed Myanmar’s detention of 92 Thai nationals for encroaching on the Myanmar soil and President Thein Sein promised to commute punishment on the Thai people but insisting that the Thai detainees would have to be prosecuted because they were found possessing weapons and illicit drugs. The spokeswomen said that the Thai government also expressed support for Myanmar's host of the next Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2013. (TNA)