Thailand, Myanmar proceed with development of Dawei special economic zone

BANGKOK, November 2 (TNA) - Thai and Myanmar authorities will have their joint committee meetings in Thailand on November 7 to drive ahead bilateral cooperation between the two neighbouring countries on the Dawei special economic zone project in Myanmar and on the setting up of more joint committees at three levels. Newly-appointed Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who is Foreign Minister concurrently, told journalists on Friday that Myanmar's Vice President and ministers in six relevant fields are scheduled to arrive in Thailand on November 6 to meet a Thai delegation, led by Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong in the same evening to prepare for the joint committee meetings on the following day. Surapong said that there will be a meeting of a high-level joint Thai-Myanmar committee on the development of the Dawei special economic zone and related projects, co-chaired by Deputy Premier Kittirat and the Myanmar Vice President, and that there will also be a meeting of a Thai-Myanmar coordination committee, co-chaired by Minister Attached to the Thai Prime Minister's Office Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan and the Myanmar Industry Minister. According to the deputy premier, Thailand and Myanmar will discuss details on joint infrastructure development plans at the two meetings, including those concerning electricity, water, roads and transportation routes, based on mutual interest and fairness. The newly-appointed deputy premier acknowledged that Thailand and Myanmar will then have an exchange of note for the formation of the Thai-Myanmar joint committees at three levels to implement a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the development of the Dawei economic zone and related projects, and that the joint meetings may also discuss a planned bilateral meeting between Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Myanmar President Thein Sein on the sidelines of this year's leadership summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and related forums in Cambodia, scheduled for November 15-20. Meanwhile, a former Thai foreign minister, Noppadon Pattama, who is now a close aide and legal advisor of exiled ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra confirmed that the ousted Thai premier, who is Premier Yingluck's elder brother, will visit Myanmar's Tachilek town, opposite Mae Sai district of Thailand's northern Chiang Rai province, from November 8-10, the closest site to his homeland since he began his self-exile in late 2006. Noppadon revealed that Thaksin is scheduled to meet with Myanmar President Thein Sein in Naypyidaw, Myanmar's new capital, as old friends with no intention to discuss the Dawei deep seaport project or any of his investment plans in Myanmar. Noppadon insisted that Thaksin has no plan to visit the Dawei deep seaport either, but he will meet some Myanmar and Thai nationals in Tachilek, including business operators. (TNA)