Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing will begin an official visit to Bangkok tomorrow, with observers hoping that the bilateral talks will mark a turning point in addressing long-running shared challenges, including migrant labour, border security and transboundary pollution.
According to the official schedule, the two leaders will inspect an honour guard at Government House at 10.20am, after which they will hold bilateral talks.
In the afternoon, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the Myanmar president will witness the signing of agreements, the exchange of MOUs and the handover of assistance.
In the evening, Anutin will host an official dinner in honour of President Min Aung Hlaing and his delegation.
The Thai Cabinet today approved a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on labour cooperation and an agreement on the employment of workers between the two countries. The labour ministers of the two countries will sign the MOU and agreement, with the two leaders serving as witnesses.
Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, said that during the two-day visit, the Myanmar president will hold bilateral talks with Anutin and meet the president of the National Assembly.
The president will also attend the Thailand-Myanmar Business Forum 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
The ministry said the president would engage in sincere and open exchanges of views aimed at further strengthening the existing friendly relations between the two countries and advancing mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic, cultural and other fields.
Meanwhile, Saengmuang Mangkorn, executive secretary of the MAP Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), said that Thailand and Myanmar face a series of interconnected challenges, including migrant labour management, border security, cross-border crime, transboundary pollution and humanitarian issues involving people displaced by conflict in Myanmar.
Saengmuang Mangkorn
Speaking to Thai PBS, Saengmuang said one of the most urgent issues was the management of migrant workers.
Although the Thai government has allowed annual extensions of visas, work permits and Certificates of Identity (CI), the process has become increasingly complicated, requiring more documentation and higher costs.
He said the situation had become even more difficult since Myanmar's 2024 political transition, as migrant workers returning home to renew their documents must also contend with compulsory military service and new documentation requirements, including the introduction of smart identity cards.
"As a result, many workers who genuinely want to work legally in Thailand are instead pushed into irregular status," he said.
Saengmuang said President Min Aung Hlaing's visits to Thailand and other ASEAN countries are widely viewed as an effort to gain greater regional acceptance despite Myanmar's government still lacking full international recognition.
He said the bilateral agenda was expected to cover border security, scam syndicates operating along the frontier and transboundary environmental issues, including pollution affecting the Sai River.
He noted, however, that despite Myanmar's efforts to project an image of political transition, real power in many parts of the country remains firmly in the hands of the military.
Saengmuang urged the Thai government to adopt a more integrated strategy that addresses labour, border trade, humanitarian issues and environmental concerns together rather than separately.
He also proposed establishing a dedicated committee to review labour regulations, simplify migrant worker registration procedures and ensure that policies are practical and enforceable.
