PM: Thailand will support reconciliation in Myanmar

BANGKOK, December 21 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Wednesday that Thailand will continue to support efforts toward reconciliation in Myanmar, expressing her satisfaction, as well, with positive outcome of the latest Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) summit, held in the neighbouring country from December 19-20. Yingluck, who returned to Bangkok on Tuesday night after attending the 4th GMS Summit, told reporters that she saw progress in democracy in Myanmar, where a new general election will be held in the near future and her administration is willing to provide support for further developments in Myanmar, including national reconciliation. Yingluck revealed that she also met Myanmar's pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on the sidelines of the two-day GMS summit, during which she praised Suu Kyi for her fight for democracy staunchly and ensured the Myanmar Nobel laureate of Thailand's continued support for reconciliatory, democratic and other developments in Myanmar, along with other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the international community; while the Myanmar pro-democracy leader expressed her appreciation to Thailand's elected government with public acceptance for its policies. The Pheu Thai premier, meanwhile, acknowledged that she was also encouraged by the latest GMS summit, at which all the GMS member countries agreed to materialize a new decade-long strategic development plan--under which Thailand is contributing to regional infrastructure projects, including a deep sea port development plan at Tavoy. The GMS member nations include Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and China. (TNA)