Thai prime minister invites Myanmar president for official visit
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Picture: Reuters
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has invited Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing for an official visit, government spokesperson Rachada Dhanadirek said on Wednesday.
The announcement was made in a statement, but no details were provided about the possible timing of the visit.
Southeast Asian neighbors are gradually trying to re-engage with Myanmar. Earlier, on Sunday, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Than Swe met with foreign ministers of the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It was the first face-to-face meeting between the junta-appointed foreign minister and the bloc’s foreign ministers in nearly five years.
Organizers described the meeting, held in Bangkok, Thailand, as a modest but significant step forward. ASEAN special envoy Maria Theresa Lazaro said, “Since the events of 2021, this is the first time we have sat face to face with Myanmar’s foreign minister.” She said Naypyidaw provided an extensive briefing on the peace process, the transfer of Aung San Suu Kyi from prison to a designated government residence, and cooperation to combat cross-border cyber scams, human trafficking and drug trafficking.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak said the meeting did not represent any change in ASEAN’s position, but rather an evolution of strategy. “Thailand adheres to a policy of maintaining controlled and gradual engagement. We have all reaffirmed our commitment to the five-point consensus. But the key question is what the strategy will be for implementing the five points,” Sihasak said.
Source: Reuters ( Adapted)
