The Prime Minister is preparing to officially welcome Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to Thailand in early August. He confirmed no concerns over negative image, noting that peace in Myanmar will benefit the Thai people.
On 22 July 2026 at the Government House, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, the spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, disclosed that Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, President of Myanmar, is scheduled for an official visit to Thailand in early August to attend the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit. She stated Thailand hopes Myanmar will gradually increase its role in ASEAN and continue efforts to build peace within Myanmar, as peace there would bring benefits and tranquility to people along the Thai border.
Ms. Ratchada explained that the agenda for discussions between the Thai Prime Minister and the Myanmar leader will cover all dimensions, including peacebuilding, drug suppression, scam gang crackdowns, environmental issues, forest fires, and toxic pollution in rivers affecting both countries across borders. Regarding pollution, the Myanmar Foreign Minister, who met with the Thai Prime Minister last week, was informed of the issues impacting Thai people. Myanmar is ready to cooperate and has requested academic support from Thailand on controlling fires and reducing pollution.
“What Myanmar appreciates from Thailand is the sincerity extended by the government, providing space for Myanmar to rejoin the ASEAN community through informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meetings, which is a very important initiative,” Ms. Ratchada said.
When asked about concerns over the potentially negative image of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the government spokesperson stated that the government is not worried about this matter. She noted that outsiders not from neighboring countries may not understand that as neighbors, we must coexist. If peace and positive developments occur in Myanmar, Thai people and Thailand will also benefit. We must cooperate rather than exclude them.