MYANMAR PREMIER TO VISIT THAILAND ON MARCH 8-9

BANGKOK, March 2 (Kyodo) -- Myanmar Prime Minister Than Shwe will visit
Thailand on March 8-9 to discuss illicit drug trafficking and bilateral
relations, Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said Tuesday.

Surin said narcotics produced in Myanmar usually go through Thailand before
reaching the world market, adding that the Myanmar government has expressed
its readiness to cooperate with Thailand to stem drug traffic.

In February, the U.S. State Department said Myanmar continues to be the
world's largest producer of illicit opium despite the government's efforts
to deal with the problem.

Last week Myanmar hosted an international heroin conference, sponsored by
Interpol, which called for worldwide assistance in the battle against
narcotics.

But the forum was boycotted by Interpol members from the United States and
many European countries, mainly due to the Myanmar junta's poor human
rights record.

During his trip, Than Shwe will visit the northern province of Chiang Mai,
a major point on the drug trafficking route from Myanmar to Thailand.

The two countries will also discuss a plan for cooperative development of
their border regions as a part of measures to suppress narcotics trade,
Surin said.

Bilateral relations have been strained following a series of disputes and
clashes in December and January in the Andaman Sea, which resulted in the
death of three Myanmar and two Thai soldiers.