On 17 February 2012, Ambassador Aung Thein of Myanmar paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul to bid farewell on the completion of his assignment in Thailand. On this occasion, Foreign Minister Surapong commended the Ambassador for playing an important role in promoting Thai-Myanmar relations, as well as emphasized Thailand’s policy that “Myanmar’s stability and prosperity is Thailand’s stability and prosperity” - all for the benefit of the peoples of both countries, especially those residing along the Thai-Myanmar border.
During this meeting, Foreign Minister Surapong stressed the importance attached by Thailand to cooperation with Myanmar in all areas, in particular, cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries along the border. Examples are as follows:
(1) Thailand will expedite the establishment of a special economic zone in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, to connect with Myanmar’s Myawaddy Special Economic Zone. Thailand also intends to build a new bridge to link the two special economic zones together, which, when completed, would help facilitate the transport of goods between the two countries. In addition, Thailand stands ready to promote the development of other special economic zones along the border as well.
(2) Thailand wishes to upgrade the border area points of entry in Kew Pha Wok in Chiang Mai Province and Huai Ton Noon in Mae Hong Son Province to become international checkpoints in order to promote further trade and investment between the two countries. This was part of the recommendations by the private sector to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during the Mobile Cabinet Meeting in Chiang Mai on 15 January 2012.
(3) Thailand attaches great importance to the development of the Dawei Seaport and Industrial Estate Project and has coordinated with the Italian-Thai Company to follow-up on the progress.
(4) Thailand will host the Thailand — Myanmar Joint Technical Committee on river boundary from 14-15 March 2012 to discuss, inter alia, the issue of construction activities along the Moei/Thaungyin River and the Kra Buri/Pakchan River to mutually resolve the issue in a sustainable manner.
In this regard, the Ambassador said that the Myanmar Government also plans to establish industrial estates along the border, which will in turn provide jobs for ethnic groups who had disarmed and signed ceasefire agreements with the Government to enable them to work and achieve better living standards. Therefore, Myanmar wishes to invite interested Thai businesses to invest in industrial estates in Myanmar.
Aside from the courtesy call, Foreign Minister Surapong also hosted a luncheon in honour of the Ambassador and his delegation at the Foreign Ministry.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th