On February 27, 2025, Mr. Paisan Rupanichkij, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chaired a proactive meeting with Mr. Chuchip Pongchai, Governor of Tak Province, to exchange information and discuss strategies for strengthening development cooperation between Thailand and Myanmar. Attendees included Mrs. Pimwadee Sovaratanapong, Deputy Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Deputy Chief of Public Health Provincial Office of Tak Province, the Director of Mae Sot Hospital, Tak Provincial Police, Immigration Bureau, Tak Provincial Education Office as well as the Director of the Suwannimit Foundation, the World Vision Organization, field coordinators from the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and other related officials. The meeting took place at the Thapthim Siam Conference Room, 8th floor, Mae Sot Hospital.

During the discussion, Mr. Chuchip emphasized the importance of the mission in the area which aims to provide comprehensive assistance for all population groups in the province. Mr. Paisan agreed that this mission requires a joint effort between the public sector and civil society as well as foreign policies that aim to enhance cross-border development cooperation, especially in the area of public health and education along Thailand-Myanmar border. Currently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand is expediting discussions with development partners to consider providing assistance to the people of Myanmar in addressing the challenges of communicable diseases and emerging infectious diseases in the border areas of Tak Province.

Furthermore, during the visit, TICA also provided bilingual (Thai and Myanmar) information materials and pamphlets for local Community Health Post in communicating information on primary health care and the prevention of communicable diseases such as malaria, cholera, and leptospirosis to Myanmar people residing in Tak Province.

During this field visit to Tak Province, the delegation also had the opportunity to observe on the ground works of Mae Sot Hospital, Mae Ramat Hospital, Tuberculosis Clinic (TB Village), Malaria Post, Migrant Education Coordination Center (MECC) and Migrant Learning Center (MLC). This visit was part of a broader effort to advance proactive development cooperation with field visits aimed at exchanging information, brainstorming, and discussing ways to enhance cooperation with Myanmar in the five border provinces which are Mae Hong Son, Ranong, Tak, Chiang Rai, and Kanchanaburi.