Foreign ministers from the Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN are set to hold an informal meeting with their Myanmar counterpart in Bangkok on July 12, according to statements from Thailand and Vietnam issued on Thursday.
The gathering takes place as Myanmar’s newly formed army-backed government — which came to power following an election earlier this year — pushes for the removal of a ban that has kept its leaders out of ASEAN summits. That ban was put in place after Myanmar’s military seized power in a 2021 coup, which sparked a civil war that continues to this day.
Vietnam’s foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang addressed the meeting during a press briefing, saying: “The meetings in Bangkok is an opportunity for ASEAN foreign ministers to directly exchange views, strengthen cooperation, and promote reconciliation dialogue in Myanmar.”
Thailand’s foreign ministry also confirmed the meeting, listing it in the schedule for a routine press conference.
The ongoing conflict in Myanmar has taken a devastating toll on the already impoverished country. A wide range of armed groups are fighting against the military, and the violence has killed more than 100,000 people while forcing millions from their homes.
At an ASEAN summit held in May, the bloc’s foreign ministers agreed to conduct a virtual meeting with Myanmar’s top diplomat, though no specific date was set at that time. The agreement came after Thailand pushed for deeper engagement with the new administration based in Naypyitaw.
The 11-member ASEAN had previously distanced itself from Myanmar’s military rulers after they failed to follow through on the bloc’s peace framework, known as the “five-point consensus.” However, a number of member states have since shifted their positions and moved toward greater engagement.
Myanmar’s former junta leader turned president, Min Aung Hlaing — who orchestrated the 2021 coup — recently made a state visit to Laos, marking his first trip to an ASEAN member country since transitioning into his new civilian role.
