Myanmar delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe arrived back from Chiang Mai, Thailand in the evening of 18 August 2024 after attending the 9th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
During his stay in Chiang Mai, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs had a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, on 15 August 2024.
At the Meeting, both sides cordially exchanged views on further enhancing the existing traditional bonds of friendship and bilateral relations. Furthermore, they engaged in candid discussions on the strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation, particularly in the areas of labour cooperation and employment of Myanmar migrant workers in Lao. They also explored opportunities to bolster trade and investment as well as closer collaboration in regional and multilateral arenas, including ASEAN.
Moreover, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs participated in the “China—Lao PDR—Myanmar—Thailand Informal Discussion,” which was held, on the sidelines of the 9th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Wang Yi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, and Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi also attended the said discussion.
During the Discussion, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs appraised them of the recent developments in Myanmar. Four nations cordially exchanged views and committed to closer collaboration for the maintenance of security, prevalence of peace and stability along the border areas and combatting illegal activities related to cross-border illicit trade, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, online scams and transnational crimes. Moreover, they also discussed the possibilities of implementing the ASEAN five-point consensus in line with the five-point roadmap of Myanmar and facilitating constructive cooperation with Myanmar as a neighbouring country.