As a general, Min Aung Hlaing led a 2021 military coup that ousted democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering a civil war estimated to have killed more than 100,000 people on all sides.
He was installed as Myanmar's president in April following stage-managed elections that democracy watchdogs and Western nations called a sham intended to launder the junta's image.
Thailand has since been leading an effort to normalise relations with Myanmar, both bilaterally and through the 11-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said his discussion with Min Aung Hlaing at Bangkok's Government House on Thursday was an opportunity to "push cooperation".
"Both Thailand and Myanmar are members of the ASEAN family, and Thailand fully supports Myanmar's participation in ASEAN," Anutin said, sitting with Thai officials at a long table across from Min Aung Hlaing and his delegation.
The Myanmar leader said his government was working towards democracy and stability in his country, as well as normalising relations with ASEAN.
But his government has refused to buy into the bloc's "five-point consensus" framework aimed at ending hostilities in Myanmar through dialogue.
ASEAN has excluded member state Myanmar's leadership from high-level summits since the putsch, but the country's foreign minister attended an informal meeting with his regional counterparts last month in Bangkok.
And Min Aung Hlaing has been on a diplomatic drive since swapping his military uniform for civilian dress, visiting India, key ally China and ASEAN member Laos.
'Reality, not legitimacy'
In the run-up to his Bangkok trip, Suu Kyi -- who remains under house arrest -- was allowed to meet a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday. It was the first time she has been seen with a foreign official since her ouster.
Full reintegration into ASEAN would open "a pathway for normalisation of relations with others, including Western countries that have remained opposed to the military regime", said Myanmar specialist Morgan Michaels.
But it had already secured recognition from India, China, Russia and Thailand, making restored ties with the regional grouping inessential, he said.
Min Aung Hlaing was welcomed Thursday by an honour guard at Government House and met one-on-one with Anutin.
At a business forum, the coup leader-turned-president said Myanmar and its "good friend" Thailand needed to cooperate in combatting illegal cross-border trade, which cost both nations revenues.
His poor country -- where several million people have been internally displaced by the civil war -- was also inviting investment in energy infrastructure and agriculture, as well as education and healthcare, he said.
Critics say Bangkok has lent legitimacy to Min Aung Hlaing and his nominally civilian government by hosting him.
The former military chief has been sanctioned by several Western nations and is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters Thursday that Bangkok's diplomatic overtures were practical.
"It's not about legitimacy, it's about reality," Sihasak said.
Trade and border security
"We have problems that we face along the border and at the same time we have to be proactive in terms of helping Myanmar on the path of peace and stability," the top diplomat said.
"The best way to achieve that is to have talks with those who are in the position of power."
Fighting between Myanmar's military and myriad rebel factions has spilled over the long border with Thailand, which hosts millions of refugees from Myanmar.
Thailand also has to deal with cyberscam networks and illicit drugs traffickers in Myanmar's volatile borderlands.
Sihasak said Thursday the two sides had discussed a number of regional issues, including trade, border security and scams, and established a working group to address river pollution.
The Southeast Asian neighbours were aiming to boost bilateral annual trade to $12 billion, from $7.4 billion, he added.
Sihasak earlier this week welcomed Suu Kyi's Red Cross meeting, saying he hoped that Myanmar authorities "will undertake further positive steps" towards peace and stability.
burs-sco/ami
© 2026 AFP
