Thai PM arrives in Myanmar for two-day official visit

NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR, October 9 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha has arrived in Myanmar for a two-day official visit, scheduled for October 9-10, aimed to introduce himself and his administration and to strengthen bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries. Accompanied by his wife, Naraporn Chan-ocha, and his entourage, the Thai prime minister was first welcomed at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport and then by Myanmar President Thein Sein at the Presidential Office in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar's capital, in an official reception ceremony. The Thai prime minister then thanked Myanmar for understanding Thailand's situation and standing by the Thai Kingdom, while expressing Thailand's readiness to reciprocally support national reform and development in Myanmar. The Myanmar and Thai leaders are scheduled to hold bilateral talks and to head a plenary discussion between the Myanmar and the Thai sides on bilateral and regional issues within the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which both countries are members and Myanmar is now the current chair. Talks between two sides reportedly include cooperation on security, trade and investment, covering the joint development of the Dawei special economic zone and related projects in Myanmar, as well as on the development of border areas and on anti-cross border crime, namely drug and human trafficking. Both leaders are also scheduled to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the establishment of three pairs of sister cities--between Chaing Mai Province in the Thai North and Keng Tung Town in Myanmar's Shan State, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province in the Upper Thai South and Myeik City in Myanmar's Tanintharyi Region and Ranong Province in the Thai South and Kawthaung Township also in Myanmar's Tanintharyi Region. Besides, the Myanmar and Thai leaders are expected to discuss bilateral deals on energy cooperation, including those on power trade and the development of infrastructure in the energy sector, covering electricity and gas services, as well as alternative energy and other petroleum products. The Thai prime minister will also hand out financial support to the Myanmar National Blood Centre and Myanmar-Thai Friendship Schools. (TNA)