BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow is set to meet Myanmar’s leadership during an official visit, with cross-border haze pollution and regional stability high on the agenda.
Sihasak has been scheduled to hold talks with Myanmar’s president, Min Aung Hlaing, following the formation of a new government. The Thai government views the transition as an opportunity for more comprehensive dialogue and reconciliation within Myanmar, with the goal of improving stability in a neighboring country.
The discussions will also cover cooperation on border security, transnational crime, and drug trafficking, as well as environmental concerns such as air and water pollution. Border trade, which accounts for a large share of economic activity between the two countries, is also under review as both sides look to restore momentum.
Sihasak is expected to raise PM2.5 pollution as a shared regional issue requiring coordination with Myanmar and Laos. He signaled support for Myanmar’s gradual re-engagement with ASEAN and welcomed recent developments by the new government. The foreign minister also stressed the need to reduce violence along the border and deepen cooperation on humanitarian and security matters. (NNT)
