New Thai PM to visit Myanmar next month

NAYPYITAW, MYANMAR, September 25 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha plans to visit Myanmar next month, his first destination of international trip to introduce himself after taking office recently. Thai Ambassador to Myanmar Pisanu Suvanajata told TNA of the plan on Thursday, saying that the prime minister plans to first visit Myanmar in mid-October because the neighboring country is now the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has always had good ties with Thailand. Pisanu noted that Myanmar is looking forward to the Thai prime minister's visit although the exact date has not yet been announced. The top Thai envoy revealed that, during his stay in Myanmar, the Thai prime minister plans to call on Myanmar President Thein Sein in Naypyitaw and meet Thai business operators in Yangon. There are now about 2,000 Thai business operators in Myanmar, including those running small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), technology businesses and branches of big companies in Thailand. Asked whether the Thai prime minister would meet National League for Democracy Party chair Aung San Suu Kyi, the Thai ambassador said he has not received any confirmation on that. The ambassador told TNA that in principle the new prime minister would mainly introduce himself and push for international relations in his overseas trips, while internal politics would be irrelevant. According to the top Thai envoy, staffs of all Thai embassies overseas are arranging for the new Thai prime minister's visits with authorities of their respective countries. (TNA)