Thai Vice PM Visits Myanmar to Meet President Min Aung Hlaing, Pursuing Pragmatic Bilateral Ties
Thai Vice PM Sihasak Phuangketkeow visited Myanmar to meet with Min Aung Hlaing, advocating for a 'pragmatic' diplomatic approach. While upholding ASEAN's '5-point consensus,' Thailand seeks to address urgent border security and transnational crime issues by engaging with the current regime.
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- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 12:51
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Central News Agency, Bangkok, April 21 (Reporter: Li Zong-xian). Thai Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow departed for Myanmar today, where he is expected to meet with the new President Min Aung Hlaing. Before his departure, Sihasak stated that Thailand would not abandon ASEAN's '5-point consensus' but must face the reality that Myanmar has held elections, pursuing bilateral relations and dialogue in a pragmatic manner.
Sihasak Phuangketkeow departed today for Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, to meet with President Min Aung Hlaing. The meeting takes place after Min Aung Hlaing approved the amnesty of 4,335 prisoners, including former President Win Myint, and reduced the prison sentence of Myanmar's democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi upon taking office.
Meeting with international media yesterday, Sihasak said that Thailand would not give up on ASEAN's '5-point consensus' but must be realistic and pragmatically face the current situation in Myanmar. He said: 'Myanmar has already held elections. We cannot ask them to hold another one, but can we ask them to move forward?'
Sihasak explained that Thailand's next strategy is to acknowledge the current status while asking Myanmar to move forward, including promoting dialogue, reconciliation, reducing violence, and opening more space for humanitarian aid. He said this is the message he intends to convey to the Myanmar authorities.
The Myanmar military launched a coup in February 2021. In April of the same year, ASEAN and the Myanmar military government reached a '5-point consensus' on the situation in Myanmar, including the immediate cessation of violence and the start of constructive dialogue by all parties, but no significant progress has been made so far.
Sihasak emphasized that it is impossible for Thailand not to engage with Myanmar. The two countries share a 2,400-kilometer border and face urgent problems daily. Without contacting the authorities in Naypyidaw and various parties, issues such as fraud, drugs, and pollution cannot be resolved.
Thai PBS reported on the 18th, citing sources, that Sihasak would discuss bilateral relations and the situation after the Myanmar general elections with Min Aung Hlaing.
The report pointed out that Sihasak would become the first ASEAN leader to visit Myanmar since its transition from a military government to a military-backed government after the general elections. Following the 2021 coup, ASEAN had banned Myanmar's leaders from attending ASEAN summits.
Thai PBS reported that ASEAN has not yet recognized the results of Myanmar's recent election, and Sihasak's visit might be seen as Thailand's formal recognition of the new Myanmar government. (Editor: Chen Huiping) 1150421
Sihasak Phuangketkeow departed today for Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, to meet with President Min Aung Hlaing. The meeting takes place after Min Aung Hlaing approved the amnesty of 4,335 prisoners, including former President Win Myint, and reduced the prison sentence of Myanmar's democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi upon taking office.
Meeting with international media yesterday, Sihasak said that Thailand would not give up on ASEAN's '5-point consensus' but must be realistic and pragmatically face the current situation in Myanmar. He said: 'Myanmar has already held elections. We cannot ask them to hold another one, but can we ask them to move forward?'
Sihasak explained that Thailand's next strategy is to acknowledge the current status while asking Myanmar to move forward, including promoting dialogue, reconciliation, reducing violence, and opening more space for humanitarian aid. He said this is the message he intends to convey to the Myanmar authorities.
The Myanmar military launched a coup in February 2021. In April of the same year, ASEAN and the Myanmar military government reached a '5-point consensus' on the situation in Myanmar, including the immediate cessation of violence and the start of constructive dialogue by all parties, but no significant progress has been made so far.
Sihasak emphasized that it is impossible for Thailand not to engage with Myanmar. The two countries share a 2,400-kilometer border and face urgent problems daily. Without contacting the authorities in Naypyidaw and various parties, issues such as fraud, drugs, and pollution cannot be resolved.
Thai PBS reported on the 18th, citing sources, that Sihasak would discuss bilateral relations and the situation after the Myanmar general elections with Min Aung Hlaing.
The report pointed out that Sihasak would become the first ASEAN leader to visit Myanmar since its transition from a military government to a military-backed government after the general elections. Following the 2021 coup, ASEAN had banned Myanmar's leaders from attending ASEAN summits.
Thai PBS reported that ASEAN has not yet recognized the results of Myanmar's recent election, and Sihasak's visit might be seen as Thailand's formal recognition of the new Myanmar government. (Editor: Chen Huiping) 1150421