Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her delegation concluded a two-day visit to Burma yesterday with an agreement to broaden the kingdom's bilateral cooperation with Naypyidaw .
Before departing for Bangkok last night, she met for half an hour with Burma's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. The meeting was Suu Kyi's first ever audience with a head of a government in the region and another milestone in Burmese politics since her release from house arrest about a year ago.
Government spokesperson Thitima Chaisaeng said Ms Yingluck also met Burmese President Thein Sein earlier yesterday. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the two countries' improving ties and the Thai side is grateful for Burma's decision to reopen its border passage to Myawaddy and free eight Thai prisoners from Kawthaung.
The spokesperson said Ms Yingluck praised Burma for its positive development, especially its national reconciliation and successful truce with many ethnic groups. The Thai prime minister promises to support the work of the Burmese government and hopes its reconciliation policy will be successful.
Ms Yingluck also confirmed Thailand would maintain important mechanisms for bilateral talks, especially the Thai-Burmese Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation.
In the meeting, Ms Yingluck informed the Burmese president that the Highways Department would repair the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge and a connecting road in Myawaddy town as Burma requested. She also asked Burma to support Thailand's plan to develop a motorway from Kanchanaburi to Dawei by opening its border passage next to Ban Phu Nam Ron village in Thailand's Kanchanaburi province.
Meanwhile, Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan who accompanied Ms Yingluck met with their with Burmese counterparts.
Both Thai ministers met with Burmese Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin and Burmese Energy Minister Than Htay at the Myanmar International Convention Centre in Naypyidaw.
Mr Surapong said both sides expressed intention for bilateral cooperation in many areas. They include Thailand's plan to develop the motorway from the Laem Chabang port via Bangkok and Kanchanaburi to Dawei.
Yesterday's bilateral talks also referred to preparations for a meeting of heads of five ministries of both countries in Dawei on Jan 7.
The session will gather ministers of foreign affairs, energy, finance, industries and transport of both countries. They will discuss development of the Dawei deep-sea port, construction of hydropower dams to supply electricity to Thailand, border industries, and more.
Energy Minister Pichai said both countries would increase their joint offshore gas production in Burma. He referred to the M-9 gas field where drilling will begin in 2013 and the M-3 block that has wet gas suitable for petrochemical industries.
Burma has urged Thailand to sign a contract for the development of the M-3 field soon and PTT Plc plans to start drilling there in 2016, Mr Pichai said.
The minister hopes the bilateral cooperation will secure long-term sources of natural gas for Thailand.
He said Thailand would guarantee fair benefits for Burma from the energy projects.
PTT Plc and PTT Exploration and Production Plc are interested in the exploitation and also the development of petrochemical industries in Burma. Negotiations have started and the Burmese energy minister will be invited to inspect petrochemical production in Thailand.
Mr Pichai said concerned parties are also discussing development in many onshore and offshore oil fields of Burma.
Bangkok Post
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