According to military headquarters sources in Naypyidaw, military leader Min Aung Hlaing will travel to Bangkok, Thailand on April 3 via a special military aircraft to attend the BIMSTEC meeting. The trip will see Min Aung Hlaing departing from Naypyidaw to Bangkok in the morning aboard a military special aircraft Fokker 70, with his stay in Bangkok scheduled from April 3 to April 4. This marks Min Aung Hlaing’s first visit to Thailand since taking control of Myanmar.
The BIMSTEC meeting will be chaired by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The meeting will be attended by representatives from BIMSTEC member countries including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand. This sixth BIMSTEC summit will focus on regional economic, social, and technological cooperation among member states. The gathering represents a significant diplomatic engagement for the regional organization, bringing together leaders from the Bay of Bengal region to discuss matters of mutual interest and regional development.
Prior to his departure for Thailand, Min Aung Hlaing granted amnesty to four Thai fishermen who were being held in Kawthaung prison. The released individuals are Virot Saphanthong Na Nakhon, Sunan Mongkutton, Sonpong, and Thavorn. This amnesty appears to be a diplomatic gesture ahead of the Thailand visit, demonstrating an attempt to maintain bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries. The timing of the releases, just before the BIMSTEC meeting, suggests a calculated diplomatic move to ease potential tensions during the regional gathering.
