Myanmar, Thailand to maintain sound relations

NAY PYI DAW, MYANMAR, October 10 (TNA) - Myanmar and Thailand will continue and even boost sound and long-time bilateral relations and live in peaceful harmony, as the neighbouring and fellow member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are striding toward the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), set to be formed by the end of next year. Myanmar President Thein Sein announced the stance during a dinner party the Myanmar government hosted in honour of visiting Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha in Nay Pyi Daw, Myanmar's capital, on Thursday evening. President Thein Sein stressed although Myanmar and Thailand do not share the same idea on certain issues, they can live as neighbouring countries in peace and bilateral relations can be further strengthened through economic cooperation in order to drive forward their national development and sound bilateral relations forever. In response, Prime Minister Prayuth, who is paying a two-day official visit to Myanmar from October 9-10, his first overseas trip after taking office in August, said Myanmar and Thailand share a longest border and have enjoyed warm relations in every field. General Prayuth insisted he and the Thai government will continue to cherish the sound relations with Myanmar, particularly through joint border development projects, which will be concretely implemented. Accompanied by his wife, Naraporn Chan-ocha, and his entourage, the Thai prime minister left Nay Pyi Daw for Yangon on early Friday (local time) to meet the Thai business community in Myanmar at the Thai Embassy in Yangon before returning home. There are about 2,000 Thai business operators in Myanmar, including those running small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), technological businesses and branches of large-scaled Thai firms. Meanwhile, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn, a member of the prime minister's entourage, met Myanmar Foreign Minister and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to discuss warm relations between the two countries. (TNA)