Min Aung Hlaing made first Thailand visit as Myanmar president
Why it matters: The trip advances Bangkok's push to restore Myanmar's ASEAN ties after years of isolation following the 2021 coup.
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing met Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Bangkok on Thursday in his first visit to Thailand since taking office as a civilian leader in April. The two-day trip comes as Thailand steps up efforts to normalize ties with Myanmar, which has been shut out of top-level ASEAN meetings since the 2021 military coup. Thai officials said the talks covered border crime, scam syndicates, drug trafficking, river pollution, labor cooperation and economic ties. The two sides also signed several memorandums of understanding, including one on labor cooperation. Min Aung Hlaing's visit follows recent trips to Laos, India and China as he seeks broader regional engagement.