Senior General Min Aung Hlaing welcomes and holds talks with Thai Chief of Defence Forces

 

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his counterpart inspect the guard of honour.

Nay Pyi Taw February 4

Myanmar and Thailand are everlasting friendly neighbours maintaining their military ties at the most excellent level thanks to the establishment of mutual amity and trust between the two armed forces. In fact, military ties between the two countries stands as a model for other countries including the neighbours, declared Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during his meeting with Chief of the Defence Forces of Royal Thai Armed Forces General Sommai Kaotira at at Zeyathiri parlour.

The Senior General welcomed the Thai general with the guard of honour in front of Zeyathiri parlour at 10.40 am.

Present on the occasion together with the Senior General were Deputy Commander- in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in- Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, senior military officers of the Office of the Commander-in- Chief, and the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command. The Thai general was accompanied by the Thai ambassador to Myanmar, senior military officers of the Royal Thai Army, Thai (Army, Navy, Air) military attaches and officials.

The Senior General and the Thai general took the salute of the guard of honour and inspected it.

The Senior General and the Thai general introduced the welcoming party and the delegations to one another. The Thai general signed the visitor’s book of the parlour. Later they held talks there.

During the talks, the Senior General said although bilateral military relations have existed since long ago, there were only Township Border Committee (TBC) meetings at the lower levels. Later the meetings were upgraded to Regional Border Committee (RBC). Now the two countries are holding High Level Committee (HLC) meetings in which Senior Staff Talks were organized frequently. Thanks to the exchange of military goodwill visits there was friendship from which trust is built and opportunities created for maintaining peace and stability and extending cooperation.

As for eternal peace, the Senior General said the good relations between the two militaries had contributed much towards the effort to achieve peace and stability of the two countries. The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), which is the sign of peace, could be signed on 15 October last year. And Myanmar must continue its endeavour till eternal peace is achieved, he added. The Senior General expressed thanks to the Royal Thai Armed Forces for its cooperation and called for its continued assistance for the complete success of the NCA.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, on behalf of the country and the citizens, expressed thanks to Thailand for protecting Myanmar migrant workers in accord with the law. He said he believed the difficulties would be overcome and called for continued protection in line with the existing laws. The Senior General said he supported and understood the incumbent Thai government’s efforts for regional peace and stability as well as its political reforms.

The Thai Chief of the Defence Forces, on his part, said the model of good relationship between the two armies would be retained. He then praised Myanmar for the success of its peace process and offered to provide continued assistance. He said his country would do as much as it could to help and care for Myanmar workers.

Next, they discussed matters related to Myanmar’s holding of a free and fair election in the previous year, Tatmadaw’s efforts for peace and stability, conducting trainings for senior military officers and exchanging trainees for agriculture and livestock breeding courses and promoting the relations between the two armies.

After the meeting, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the Thai General and party posed for a documentary photo.

The Thai goodwill delegation led by General Sommai Kaotira and wife arrived at Nay Pyi Taw Airport at 9.50 am today to pay a goodwill visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The delegation was welcomed there by Adjutant General Lt-Gen Hsan Oo and wife, Nay Pyi Taw Command Commander Brig-Gen Moe Myint Tun and senior military officers, Thai Ambassador to Myanmar H.E. Mr. Pisanu Suvanajata, Myanmar Military Attaché (Army, Navy and Air) to Thailand Brig-Gen Chit Swe, Thai military attaché to Myanmar and officials. (100)

The Myawady Daily