Aung San Suu Kyi leaves democratically led Myanmar this week for military-ruled Thailand on an official visit that highlights the changing fortunes of the Southeast Asian neighbors.
Myanmar, now governed by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy after elections last year, is emerging from a half-century of military rule, while Thailand, Myanmar's second largest trading partner after China with total trade last year valued at $8.1 billion, is struggling to find a path back to civilian rule after the army seized power more than two years ago.
"The state visit will bring into relief an interesting reversal of political circumstances between the neighboring countries but will be largely pragmatic in tone," said Herve Lemahieu, a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. He said he expects talks to focus on trade, investment and migrant labor.
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