On 5-7 November 2024, Thailand hosted the Third Meeting of the Thailand – Myanmar Joint Committee relating to the Fixed Boundary on the Mae Sai – Nam Ruak Rivers Sector (JCR). The Meeting was co-chaired by Mrs. Suphanvasa Chotikajan Tang, Director-General of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, and Mr. Aung Kyaw Oo, Director-General of the Consular and Legal Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, and in attendance were representatives from government agencies of both countries at The Landmark Hotel in Bangkok.

The Meeting aimed to advance the policies on bilateral cooperation in accordance with the discussions between the Foreign Ministers of Thailand and Myanmar. Both sides emphasised the importance of urgent collaboration to manage the area around the Mae Sai - Nam Ruak Rivers Sector. Key objectives include enhancing flood prevention capabilities and addressing the issue of structures encroaching on the river boundaries and the fair use of water.

During the discussion, both sides agreed that the dredging of the Mae Sai - Nam Ruak Rivers is crucial for flood prevention. The Meeting also emphasised that the problem of the encroaching structures along the bank of the rivers and boundary should be addressed and resolved effectively. In this regard, the Meeting tasked the Sub-Committee relating to the Rights of Navigation, Equitable Utilization of Water, Maintenance and Preservation of Present Course of Rivers of Mae Sai – Nam Ruak Rivers Sector referred to as the JCR Sub-Committee, headed by the Vice Governor of Chiang Rai Province on the Thai side, to engage with the Myanmar side in December 2024, with the aim to finalise the plan and implementation of the survey and dredging of the water channel before the next flood season.

The JCR, established under the Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand and Myanmar relating to the fixed boundary on the Mae Sai - Nam Ruak Rivers Sector in 1991, serves as the collaborative mechanism for the management of the Mae Sai - Nam Ruak Rivers Sector, encompassing a 59-kilometer fixed boundary. It focuses on the right to navigation, ensures fair use of water, maintains and preserves the current river course, and maintains boundary reference pillars to support sustainable and economic development in the region.