Myanmar President visits Thailand

Myanmar’s President yesterday made his first official trip to Thailand since taking power, in a visit likely to focus on economic ties between his reforming nation and its more affluent neighbour.

Thein Sein arrived in Bangkok for a three-day trip that includes talks with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today, expected to cover development and infrastructure investment for impoverished Myanmar.

The visit marks “a significant milestone of Thai-Myanmar relations”, according to a statement from Thailand’s Foreign Ministry.

It is a chance to strengthen ties, “particularly those in support of Myanmar’s ongoing economic reform and development efforts for the benefits of both countries and the region as a whole”, it said.

Thailand has fostered long-standing economic ties with its neighbour and – along with China and other regional nations – became a key trading partner with Myanmar during years of isolation under junta rule.

But reforms under Mr Thein have triggered a dramatic thawing of relations with the West, which has begun to dismantle strict sanctions against the resource-rich country, amid hopes for a resurgence of its economy.

This month the US gave the green light to US companies to invest in Myanmar including in oil and gas, in its broadest and most controversial easing yet of sanctions, as foreign firms eye potentially lucrative opportunities in the country’s energy sector.

Talks between Mr Thein and Mr Yingluck are expected to include the fate of dozens of Thais arrested across the border and held on charges of land encroachment.