Myanmar army chief visits Thailand, Dawei project in focus

Min Aung Hlaing, the protege of former Myanmar junta supremo Than Shwe, met for more than an hour in Bangkok with Yutthasak Sasiprapha and outlined plans to improve ties between two countries that have long been at odds over security along a border plagued by ethnic conflicts.

Among the issues discussed was opening additional border checkpoints in Thailand's Western Kanchanaburi province, which is next to Myanmar's Dawei, the site of a planned a $50 billion complex that will be Southeast Asia's largest industrial zone when completed, Yutthasak told reporters.

The 250 sq km (97 sq mile) Dawei Special Economic Zone -- which will include a $8 billion deep sea port, an oil refinery, a coal-fired power plant and a petrochemical factory -- is located in the Tanintharyi region of southern Myanmar on the Indian Ocean, 350 km (217 miles) west of Bangkok.