ĦĦĦĦBANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Thai Foreign Minister Surakiat Sathirathai
and his Myanmar counterpart U Win Aung held talks on Tuesday to seek ways
to defuse months-old tensions on the Thai-Myanmar borders.
ĦĦĦĦThe meeting was held on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) ministerial meetings, which are underway in the capital of
Brunei.
ĦĦĦĦAt a joint briefing, both Sathirathai and U Win Aung played down the border
tensions, saying the overall trend of bilateral relations are good.
ĦĦĦĦThe two sides agreed to meet again in the near future to ease border
tensions, which erupted two months ago as their militaries accused each other of
firing gunshots across the border.
ĦĦĦĦThe dispute led to Myanmar's closure of all border crossings with Thailand,
incurring huge economic losses on both sides. Last month, U Win Aung even
refused to attend the Asian Cooperation Dialogue meeting host by Thailand.
ĦĦĦĦSo far, there have been no signs of easing of the tensions.
ĦĦĦĦAt a two-day annual meeting ending here Tuesday, ASEAN foreign ministers
failed to touch upon the dispute between the two ASEAN members.
ĦĦĦĦAt a press conference after the meeting, Brunei Foreign Minister Mohmed
Bolkiah only expressed the hope that Thailand and Myanmar would settle the row
through dialogues. Enditem
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