Myanmar official media hailed on Tuesday the 60th anniversary of the country's establishment of diplomatic relations with Thailand, calling for further strengthening of the existing friendly ties between the two neighbors.
"It is our belief that through our joint efforts, we will be able to enhance the existing friendly relations and cooperation between our two countries for the common interest of our peoples as well as for promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region," the New Light of Myanmar said in its editorial.
Noting that the friendly relations established over 60 years ago are now becoming stronger and bringing common interest to peoples of the two nations, the editorial said bilateral cooperation in multilateral for a such as in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), ACMECS (Ayeyawaddy-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy) and GMS (Greater Mekong Subregion) reflect the common resolve to improve the lives of the peoples of two countries and to ensure peaceful development and prosperity ofthe region as a whole.
Warning that global nations are now being beset by many unconventional challenges which no country alone can cope with, the editorial firmly believed that if Thailand and Myanmar work hand-in-hand they will be able to overcome any difficulties.
In April-May this year, in return to the March visit made by his Thai counterpart Samak Sundaravej, Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein toured Thailand, paving way for furthering bilateral economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
During Thein Sein's trip, an agreement on promotion and protection of investments between the two countries was signed.
Discussions between the two governments during the visit covered bilateral cooperation in a number of sectors such as narcotic drug eradication, hydropower, energy, mining, agriculture and industry as well as construction of a deep-sea port in Myanmar's southern port city of Dawei, the road to Mawlamyine through Myawaddy-Thingan Nyinaung, the railroad and motor road linking Kanchanaburi and Dawei and the India-Myanmar-Thailand highway.
Myanmar-Thailand bilateral cooperative ties have maintained a good momentum in recent years with Thailand playing a key role in Myanmar's economic development as Thailand has become Myanmar's biggest foreign investor and trading partner.
With huge investment of 6.311 billion U.S. dollars pouring in Myanmar's electric power sector alone, Thailand's investment has accounted for 7.3 billion dollars, or over 53 percent, of Myanmar's total foreign investment received.
The Thai investment prompted Myanmar's contracted foreign investment to hit 14.736 billion U.S. dollars in 19 years as of the end of 2007 since the country opened to such investment in late 1988.
Thailand also stood as Myanmar's top trading partner as well as top exporting country during the fiscal year 2007-08, which ended in March, with a bilateral trade volume of 3.205 billion U.S. dollars, of which Myanmar's export to Thailand amounted to 2.823 billion dollars, while its import from Thailand 382 million dollars, according to Myanmar official statistics. Myanmar gained a trade surplus with Thailand for exporting natural gas during the year.
On the occasion of the Myanmar-Thai diplomatic establishment anniversary, Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag visted Myanmar, while Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Maung Myint toured Thailand last weekend.
Source:Xinhua
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