In this photo released by Thailand's Foreign Affairs Ministry, Myanmar's military leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, foreground left, arrives in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Thailand's Foreign Affairs Ministry via AP)
A week after a major earthquake ravaged portions of the war-torn country, killing over 3,100 people and prompting the UN chief to call for assistance, Myanmar’s junta leader attended a regional summit in Bangkok on Friday.
Min Aung Hlaing’s rare journey takes use of a window created by the disaster to increase diplomacy at gatherings like the BIMSTEC conference in the Thai capital. She has been shunned by most foreign leaders since spearheading a coup that toppled an elected government in 2021.
On the margins, Min Aung Hlaing met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Thai Premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra in both directions. According to the state-run Myanmar newspaper Global New Light, the junta head would discuss “the potential for cooperation to carry out rescue, relief, and rehabilitation” amid the earthquake recovery effort.
According to the ruling junta, 3,145 people have died as a result of the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck the Southeast Asian country on March 28. Over 4,500 people have been injured, and more than 200 people are still unaccounted for.
About the social unrest sparked by the coup, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters on Thursday that the earthquake has intensified the suffering and that the monsoon season is quickly approaching.
Also Read:
Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing The Business Landscape
Top 10 Best Inspirational CEOs & Leaders to Watch Out
About Author
