Thailand: Border Meeting With Myanmar a "Success"

The border meeting between Thailand and Myanmar aimed at improving strained bilateral ties ended Wednesday with success, the head of Thai delegation said.

Wattanachai Chaimuanwong, commander of Thailand's third army which is in charge of security of northern border with Myanmar, told reporters that the Thai-Myanmar Regional Border Committee ( RBC) meeting was a "success" after both sides agreed to cooperate more closely on drug suppression.

Wattanachai said Myanmar had specifically agreed to Thailand's call for help in crackdown on amphetamine producing plants and cross-border trafficking, according to The Nation online news service.

"Both sides have reached better understanding on the need to cooperate on issues ranging from drug suppression, demarcation of border, cross border trade and fisheries," Wattanachai said.

Thai-Myanmar relations got strained since February when Myanmar denied Thailand's accusation that the battle between Myanmar's troops and anti-government rebels spilled over on to Thai soil. The clashes between the two countries left several civilians dead.

At the three-day meeting in Myanmar's Ken Tung province, the two sides also agreed that the RBC meeting should be held once every six months instead of every two years. They also agreed that the border checkpoint at Thachilek-Mae Sai should be reopened as soon as possible, the report said.

The checkpoint has been closed since February.

People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/