Thailand and Myanmar Sign Agreement on Cross-Border Pollution Control

Thailand and Myanmar have signed a Terms of Reference (TOR) to establish a joint working committee on water quality management in shared border rivers and rivers flowing between the two nations. On August 6, 2025, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchad Choomklin advanced environmental cooperation between the two countries by signing the TOR, which aims to enhance monitoring, tracking, and water quality data exchange while establishing systematic measures to prevent and resolve transboundary pollution issues. The agreement seeks to protect water resources, ecosystems, and improve quality of life for people in border areas sustainably.

Prime Minister Anuthong Chayanweerakul of Thailand and President Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar presided over the signing ceremony, witnessed by the permanent secretaries of both nations' natural resources and environment ministries—Dr. Raviwan Phuridej (Thailand) and La Maung Teng (Myanmar). The signing took place during President Min Aung Hlaing's official visit to Thailand on August 6-7, 2025, to strengthen and elevate bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, energy, and environmental development.

The TOR establishes a cooperation mechanism for monitoring, surveying, and exchanging information and expertise on water quality in shared rivers while defining joint measures for systematic water quality management. It aims to enable rapid and effective problem-solving while minimizing impacts on border communities. The TOR is valid for three years from the signing date. Both countries will establish joint working committees at ministerial and departmental levels to drive concrete implementation, integrating environmental agencies' work in monitoring water quality, sharing technical data, and jointly developing prevention and resolution strategies. This will improve water resource management, reduce pollution risks, and create long-term environmental security for people in both countries.