Thailand

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Thailand
Major Facts
Statistics: Trade: 2.659 billion (2006-7) – border trade 248 million dollars Investment: 7.3 billion Refugees in Thailand Migrant workers: 500-600,000

Latest News:
5 Feb 2010 - Thailand halted the repatriation of more than 3,000 ethnic Karens to Myanmar today after human rights groups and U.S. lawmakers said they were being forced to return against their will.

2 Feb 2010 - Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Aung San Suu Kyi may be freed during the national elections in Burma. He also said that "the elections most probably will be in the second half of the year" and cautioned against sanctions as a way to put pressure on the junta.

28 Jul 2009 - Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva postponed a visit to Burma set for July 31st at the request of of the ruling junta because of an impending verdict in the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi

Background
Diplomatic relations since: August 1948
Burma
Policy: Constructive Engagement
Major issues:
  • Oil and gas
  • Trade and investment
  • Border conflict and disputes
  • Refugees
  • Drugs
  • AIDS
  • Illegal migration
  • terrorism
Thai policy dubbed a bamboo policy has in general remained flexible. Historical enmity between the two nations continues to influence relations but political and economic realities have forced both sides to work closer together. Thailand is Burma’s second largest trading partner with major deals in fishing, timber and oil and gas. Thailand has supported national reconciliation in Burma (notably initiating the idea of a road map and convening the Bangkok process) and its policy in recent years has been based on confidence building with senior Burmese leaders.

Statements


Major Deals and Cooperation
1995 Honorary doctorate in political science by Thammasat university in Bangkok to ASSK.
2003 Thailand provided assistance in building roads and bridge links with Myanmar as well as assistance in the country’s anti-drugs programmes in the Shan state
Ayeyawaddy-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS)

High Level Visits
December 1988 General Chavalit a delegation of 34 members
September 1995 Defense Minister General Chavalit visited Yangon following tensions which led to closure of cross border check points and constructions, as well as suspension of fishing and logging agreements
November 1995 Thai Foreign Minister Kasem visited Yangon to work on border trade agreement. Friendship bridge. Unruly business ventures by thais.
17-18 march 1996 Thai Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-Archa to Myanmar
Late March and early April1998 Thai Senior military commanders and deputy foreign minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra travelled to Yangon to reaffirm ties and resolve outstanding issues.
January 1999 Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra officially visited Myanmar
March 1999 Thai Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra to Yangon
March 1999 Sr.Gen Than Shwe and Khin Nyunt visit Thailand
November 1999 Thai Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra to Yangon
19-20 June 2001 Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visit Yangon
23-24 July 2001 Prime Minister and Defense Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh visit to Burma
September 2001 Khin Nyunt toured Bangkok
23-26 April 2002 Vice-Chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Maung Aye visited Bangkok to meet PM Thaksin ,Thai Supreme Commander of Armed Forces Narong Yutthawong, Deputy Prime Ministerand Defense Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.
August 2002 Thai foreign minister visit to burma, border trade reopened and settlement reached
24-25 September 2002 FM Win Aung visited Bangkok to reopen the Thai-Burma border meeting PM Thaksin Shinawatra and FM Surakiart Sathirathai
2003 Than Shwe made a one day working visit to Thailand for a regional summit on SARS
10-14 March 2003 Than Shwe received Thailand’s Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
9-10 February 2003 Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited Yangon
November 2003 Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited Yangon
December 2003 Thailand helved its own unclear road-map for Myanmar, attempted to assist Myanmar’s multilateral diplomacy and its efforts to find acceptance for the Myanmar plan by hosting a one-day meeting of senior officials from twelve governments (Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Austria, Germany, Italy,France, China, India, and Japan and the U.N. Special Envoy, Tan Sri Razali Ismail) in Bangkok.
July 2004 Prime Minister Khin Nyunt met with Thai PM Thaksin in Bangkok
2 August 2006 Myanmar's top leader Senior-General Than Shwe met with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Nay Pyi Taw
August 2006 Thailand's Armed Forces Supreme Commander Gen. Ruengroj Mahasaranond left Bangkok Monday for a three-day visit to Myanmar to strengthen military relations between the two countries
September 2006 Thai Army Commander-in-Chief General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin visit burma
November 2006 hai Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont Nay Pyi Taw Thursday to pay one-day goodwill visit
August 2007 Senior-General Than Shwe met with visiting Thai Army Commander-in-Chief General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin Nay Pyi Taw
? postponed Thai Defense Minister Gen Boonrod Somthat
26 Jan 2009 Thai Supreme Commander Gen Songkitti Jaggabat visited Burma to talk with the junta on the Rohingya boat people issue. Songkitti met with Maung Aye
17 Feb 2009 Snr-Gen Than Shwe, the Burmese junta leader, along with the junta’s No.2, Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye, and No.3, Gen Shwe Mann, met with Thailand’s Army Chief Gen Anupong Paojinda to discuss the Rohingya boat people issue
14 March 2008 Thailand Prime Minister Samak led a goodwill delegation
22-23 Mar 2009 Thailand’s Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said, during his visit to Burma that he was asked by the military junta to meet representatives of ethnic rebels and to persuade the KNU to join the junta’s road map to democracy. The purpose of his trip was to also lay the groundwork for an official visit by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
15-18 Mar 2010 Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn paid an official three day visit to Burma where she met junta supremo Senior General Than Shwe and discussed bilateral cooperation on development projects to help Cyclone Nargis victims.
11 Oct 2010 Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva visited Burma to discuss bilateral cooperation, border issues and Burma's upcoming election. He said that Myanmar has rejected any help to carry out its upcoming election.

Last Updated on Monday, 29 November 2010 22:05