Thailand has affirmed its intention to bring Myanmar back into the ASEAN fold, following a meeting between Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the country’s military-appointed president, Min Aung Hlaing, in Bangkok yesterday.
The summit was the highlight of the former general’s two-day visit to Thailand, his first official visit to the country since he led a military coup in 2021.
After arriving in Bangkok, Min Aung Hlaing was given a red-carpet welcome by Anutin, who then hosted him for talks at Government House in Bangkok. During the visit, Min Aung Hlaing also attended an official dinner, met the leaders of both houses of the Thai parliament, and spoke at a Thai-Myanmar business forum in the Thai capital, before departing today.
In a joint statement issued late yesterday, Thailand “reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and continuing to work closely with Myanmar for Myanmar’s full and equal participation in ASEAN mechanisms and processes.” Myanmar in turn “expressed its appreciation for Thailand’s constructive role in facilitating the normalization of its relations with ASEAN.”
In the statement, the two countries said they agreed to “further deepen dialogue at all levels,” in the areas of security, trade, and environmental protection. They also expressed their “joint commitment to achieve a peaceful and stable Thailand–Myanmar border.”
