Thailand supports infrastructure development in Myanmar

NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR, November 22 (TNA) - Thailand has pledged to help construct new roads and develop an existing airport in Myanmar in order to further enhance bilateral and regional trade, investment and tourism. The pledge was made at the 7th Thai-Myanmar Joint Commission (JC) Meeting, held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar’s new capital, on Friday, which was jointly chaired by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who is also Foreign Minister, and Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin. Damrong Kraikruan, Director-General of the Department of East Asian Affairs, under the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told journalists that both sides have agreed on the importance of the infrastructure development projects in Myanmar, as part of their economic cooperation, to become their new short-cut cross-border transport and logistic channels, particularly those linking Mae Sot in Thailand's northwestern Tak Province with Myanmar's Kawkareik and Mawlamyine areas and the Three Pagodas Pass in Thailand's western Kanchanaburi Province with Myanmar's Payatongsu and Mawlamyine areas. Damrong assessed that the construction of the two new roads, starting from the Thai side, should be completed within 3-5 years, while Thailand will also help further develop an existing airport in Myanmar’s Dawei City so that it is equipped with needed aviation and navigation systems to facilitate bilateral and regional tourism and trade in the future. According to the senior official, agenda of the 7th Thai-Myanmar JC Meeting, the first-resumed in 11 years, also include Thailand's assistance in improving workers' skills and education and public health services in Myanmar, especially those in border areas, in the lead-up to the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by 2015. The senior official noted that a plan to open three new border crossings, namely Singkorn, Kew Phawok and Huaitonnoon, was also raised at Friday's Thai-Myanmar JC Meeting. (TNA)