Prayut in Myanmar today, making his first foreign visit as PM

He is to meet President Thein Sein in the afternoon shortly after his arrival to discuss wide-ranging issues on bilateral diplomatic relations and regional interests.
Prayut and Thein Sein will witness the signing ceremony of three memoranda of understanding to establish twin cities along the border – Chiang Mai and Keng Tung, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Mergui, and Ranong and Kawthaung. The twin cities would enhance cooperation and ties in all aspects including economic, trade and border development, Yongyuth said.
The big picture of Thailand-Myanmar relations would focus on partnership for security and development, he said.
To that end, the ties would forge cooperation on border development, combating narcotics, transport links, energy, and skill development for labourers, he said.
The two leaders will push ahead the joint development of the Dawei Special Economic Zone, for which the two countries want Japan to join in as the third party, he said.
The Joint High Level Committee for the Dawei project will call the next round of meetings late this year to review the progress of the project, he added.
Prayut told reporters that Dawei was an important project of cooperation under the Asean framework. He will take another opportunity during the Asean summit in Nay Pyi Taw next month to discuss the issue with Japanese leaders who will be present.
Prayut will be in the business hub of Yangon tomorrow to meet with Thai investors in Myanmar as well as officials to exchange views on Thai business, trade and investment in the country, Yongyuth said.
Myanmar is the first foreign destination of Prayut as prime minister, having taken the office after the May military coup.
Prayut plans to visit Italy in the middle of this month to join the Asia-Europe Meeting. He will take the opportunity to meet with counterparts from European countries to explain the political situation in Thailand, as they have strongly criticised him for seizing power from the elected government.
Prayut is scheduled to meet his counterparts from the Netherlands and Switzerland.
He said he would ask the European Union to extend tax privileges under the Generalised System of Preferences for 732 Thai goods, which are due to expire in January.
“I will ask [the EU] to extend the tax privileges or to make tariff reductions, since our production costs are rising so that we cannot compete with products from low-cost countries,” he said.