Thailand-Myanmar hold first JC meeting in a decade
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The Thailand and Myanmar joint commission (JC) on bilateral cooperation on Friday will highlight border development with the aim of increasing Mynamar's capacities and strengthening connectivity between the two neighbours, officials said.
Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and his Myanmar counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin are the cochairs of the meeting, which is being held in Nay Pyi Taw.
The meeting will cover a wide range of bilateral cooperation components including capacity building, economic cooperation, social and cultural projects as well as politics and security.
It is being held as part of the events to mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The last join commission took place 11 years ago. The two countries have not utilised this mechanism over the past decade due to their respective internal problems.
The next 10 years will be the decade of connectivity between Thailand and Myanmar, as both sides have agreed to speed up transportation infrastructure development to link the two countries, the Thai Foreign Ministry’s Director of East Asia Department, Damrong Kraikruan, said.
Within three to five years, both countries intend to complete at least two road links from Thailand’s Mae Sot to Kawkareik to Mawlamyine as well as from Kanchanaburi’s Three Pagoda pass to Thanbyuzaya to Mawlamyine, he said.
These roads, when completed, would facilitate and boost trade and tourism between the two countries, he said. In its current condition, the road from Mae Sot alone could facilitate more than 65 per cent of transportation of goods between the two countries, Damrong said.
Another project under consideration is Dawei airport, he said, adding that it should be renovated to facilitate air transport between Thailand and Dawei Special Economic Zone.
Thailand has agreed to provide more assistance to help increase the capacities of its neighbour in the areas of public health, labor skill and general education, said Damrong.
“We are focusing on cooperation and assistance to the border area, as this zones have been ignored for a long time and this is what Thailand can best do to help its neighbor,” he said.
The two sides also plan to upgrade border pass facilities and open a few more permanent checkpoints at Kiew Pha Vok in Chiang Mai), Huay Ton Noon in Mae Hong Son and Singkhorn Prachuap Khiri Khan.
