The Thai and Myanmar militaries have agreed on strengthening bilateral cooperation to address problems along the two countries' common border, Commander-in- Chief of the Royal Thai Army Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said.

Sonthi was quoted by the Thai News Agency on Thursday as saying that he held talks with Myanmar top military leaders, who gave him a warm welcome, and then reached the proactive agreement.

The bilateral cooperation includes joint efforts to prevent and crack down drug trafficking, as well as all other cross-border crime and offenses, he said.

The local-level joint border committee will directly coordinate on the agreed tasks, according to the Thai army chief.

The two sides had also agreed to hold joint meetings of local military chiefs more regularly, said Sonthi.

During the three-day official visit to Myanmar ending Wednesday, the Thai army chief met Gen. Than Shwe, Chairman of Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), who is also the country's armed forces chief and defense minister, and Gen. Maung Aye, Vice Chairman of the ruling council, as well as deputy armed forces chief and army chief, to discuss issues of mutual interest, aimed at strengthening military ties and cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

Source: Xinhua