Bilateral Talks: Myanmar and Thailand hold bilateral talks

President U Min Aung Hlaing held bilateral talks with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at Government House in Bangkok on Thursday.

During the talks, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand and Myanmar are close neighbors and trusted friends, sharing a long border. He added that Thailand hopes Myanmar will fully resume its role in ASEAN and said there are many opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation.

President U Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar and Thailand have enjoyed close ties for many years and share strong cultural, religious, and people-to-people connections. The president described the current period as an important transition for both countries, noting that new governments had taken office in Thailand and Myanmar.

He said Myanmar is moving toward a better future through democracy, while prioritizing national stability, peace, and national reconciliation. He also said Myanmar seeks to maintain friendly relations with neighboring and regional countries and aims to restore normal engagement with ASEAN. On the peace process, the President said Myanmar remains committed to advancing peace through the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

He welcomed Thailand's support for Myanmar's peace efforts and thanked for its continued backing, including its role as an international witness to the NCA since 2015. He also said Myanmar is working toward a democratic federal union based on a system suited to the country's circumstances.

He added that the government has repeatedly invited ethnic armed organizations and other groups to resolve political differences through dialogue and has been holding peace talks with both NCA signatories and non-signatory groups. The President said Myanmar and Thailand already enjoy strong cooperation between their governments, armed forces, institutions, and people, noting that the two countries will mark the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2028. 

He expressed confidence that cooperation and friendship will continue to deepen for the benefit of both peoples. Prime Minister Anutin reaffirmed that Thailand remains a reliable friend of Myanmar, saying Thailand will continue working with Myanmar on border affairs, development cooperation, and broader bilateral initiatives to promote the well-being of both countries and their people.

The two leaders also exchanged views on expanding cooperation through parliamentary exchange visits, strengthening strategic security and defense ties, enhancing cooperation on border security, and combating transnational crimes, including drug trafficking, online scams, human trafficking, and illegal trade. They further discussed closer collaboration in the areas of economy, trade, aviation, tourism, energy, culture, environmental protection, and migrant worker affairs. Following the talks, Myanmar and Thailand exchanged four agreements and memorandums of understanding covering labor cooperation, worker recruitment, space technology development, and joint management of water quality in shared border rivers.