Thailand's Foreign Ministry said Monday that Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing will make an official visit to Bangkok on August 6-7 at the invitation of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. This paper's Monday brief logged the invitation. Tuesday the window still sits on the calendar. [1]

The trip is his first official visit to Thailand since he took the presidency in April after a restricted election that Western governments dismissed as a legitimacy play. Thai officials say the two leaders will discuss bilateral cooperation, ASEAN work, and a Thailand-Myanmar Business Forum. [1][2]

Reuters first dated the window on July 22. Bangkok wants "calibrated re-engagement" after ASEAN barred Myanmar's leaders from summits for failing the five-point consensus. He will also see the acting president of the National Assembly and the Senate president. [2][3]

The visit follows a Laos trip and earlier travel to India and China. The civil war that followed the 2021 coup has killed an estimated 100,000 people, and monitors say aerial attacks on civilians have intensified even as the visitor pledges peace. [3]

Dulyapak Preecharush of Thammasat University has warned that friendly protocol can drift into validation. Thailand wants a bridge. The junta wants a suit and a forum.

-- DAVID CHEN, Beijing