The Eighth Meeting of

The Thailand - Myanmar Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation

Chiang Mai, Thailand, 27 - 28 July 2015

The Eighth Meeting of the Thailand – Myanmar Joint Commission (JC), hosted by Thailand, was held in Chiangmai, from 27 to 28 July 2015. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and H.E. U Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar. The Thai and Myanmar delegations comprised representatives from various organizations of both countries.

In his opening message, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand expressed his will to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in all areas. With the emphasis on connectivity particularly people-to-people contact, the close bilateral cooperation would serve as the key to the integration of ASEAN Community, and would also allow the peoples of both countries to fully live with prosperity and dignity. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar then conveyed the message from the President of Myanmar to wish Their Majesties the King and the Queen of Thailand good health. After that both sides proceeded to review their existing cordial relation and explored ways and means to further strengthen cooperation in all areas on the firm principle of common interest. Both sides highly welcomed the planned Royal Visit to Myanmar by H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in October 2015 and deemed H.R.H.’s Visit as a significant occasion that will help elevate the relations between the two countries to a higher level.

On political and security dimension, the Thai side confirmed its support for reform and peace process in Myanmar. Both sides discussed cooperation in the upgrading of border checkpoints, the preparation for the return of displaced persons to Myanmar, the cooperation in narcotic drugs prevention and suppression, defence cooperation mechanisms and the cooperation in combating human trafficking. 

On the economic dimension, both sides discussed future cooperation in promoting two-way trade and investment with an aim to increase the trade value to 10-12 billion US Dollar within 2017. Both sides discussed ways to promote the connectivity in transportation, the setting up of the committee on land connectivity and the commencement of negotiations on the draft Agreement on Cross-Border Transport, as well as the memorandum of understanding on international bus services for facilitating trade, investment and tourisms. Both sides welcomed the progress in concluding the negotiations on the Agreement on Border Crossing. On the financial and banking cooperation, Myanmar side allowed the Baht –Kyat direct exchange. In May 2015, Myanmar gave the permission for Bangkok Bank to open the branch in Yangon, Myanmar.

Both sides discussed the way in enhancing collaboration on labour issues and the possibility of cooperation in fishery development and management in a sustainable manner. Myanmar side will grant fishing rights to those eligible Thai entrepreneurs. The two delegations also stressed the significance of the implementation of Dawei SEZ Project and the plan to cope with the projected increase number of labor involved. Thailand would support the construction of the emergency department of Dawei Hospital when the details are agreeable by to the Myanmar side.

On socio-cultural and development cooperation, both sides sought to strengthen cooperation in education, public health, tourism and development cooperation especially in human development and institutional capacity building and sustainable agricultural development in the State of Rakhine. The two delegations also accorded high priority to development cooperation and sought to intensify their efforts to enhance cooperation in this area,

At the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar signed the Agreement between the Government of Thailand and the Government of Myanmar on Visa Exemption for Holders of Ordinary Passports. Both sides opined that the entry into force of the Agreement would further promote connectivity and enhance people-to-people ties, as well as tourism between the two countries.

On this occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar also presided over the opening ceremony of the Myanmar Consulate-General in Chiang Mai on 29 July 2015.

The Thailand – Myanmar Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation is a regular high-level consultative mechanism to enhance closer collaboration and expand comprehensive cooperation in all areas. The two delegations agreed to hold the next meeting in Myanmar in 2017.