Kanchanaburi's Thai-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC) met yesterday to strengthen ties and step up efforts to combat cross-border crime, including narcotics smuggling and human trafficking, local authorities said.
The meeting, hosted by Myanmar, took place in Payatongsu, a border town opposite Kanchanaburi's Sangkhla Buri district.
Leading the Thai delegation was Col Sarawut Chaiyasit, the commander of the Lard Ya task force and chairman of the Thai TBC.
According to local officials, the TBC agreed to increase cooperation in its fight against the illicit drug trade and pledged to seek closer cooperation in tracking down suspects wanted on arrest warrants.
Also raised at the meeting were measures to deter illegal entry by migrants into Thailand and encourage people to cross the border with legal documents to prevent the illegal movement of trans-border people and human trafficking.
Both sides also agreed to work closely on border demarcation, waste disposal at border checkpoints, better wages for migrant workers in border towns and the opening of the Three Pagodas temporary checkpoint.
Thailand and Myanmar have several township border committees which play a key role in strengthening ties and preventing border disputes.
Meanwhile, the New Mon State Army organised activities including a military parade to celebrate the 71st anniversary of Mon National Day in Myanmar's fourth-largest city Mawlamyine, formerly known as Moulmein, on Thursday.
Nai Htaw Mon, chairman of the New Mon State Party, told the participants that the group was considering signing a national ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar government following a recent meeting with State Counsellor and de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
He said the government was open to the group's conditions, prompting it to consider signing the agreement that would lead to a political dialogue.
The border meeting yesterday also discussed possible Thai investment in Myanmar.
