YANGON, Myanmar (AFP): Myanmar's junta-chief turned president, Min Aung Hlaing, will visit Vietnam this weekend, both nations said Tuesday, the latest trip on a regional drive for diplomatic recognition.
Min Aung Hlaing triggered Myanmar's civil war as armed forces chief in 2021 by ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and detaining her.
In April, he took over as civilian president after staging highly restricted elections, and is now waging a diplomatic offensive to end his country's pariah status abroad.
The Myanmar foreign ministry said he would meet President To Lam in Vietnam, as well as Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and the president of the national assembly.
"Furthermore, the president will attend the Myanmar-Vietnam Business Forum 2026 and the itinerary includes visits to digital and electronic technology industries," it said in a statement.
It did not specify the dates of the visit, which it said aims to promote "mutually beneficial cooperation between the two governments".
Vietnam state media said he would be in the Communist nation from September 4 to 6.
Much of the international community shunned Myanmar's leadership after the coup, which triggered a civil war that some monitors estimate to have claimed 100,000 lives.
But there has been a shift since the elections.
The vote has been dismissed in many quarters as a charade, as it excluded Suu Kyi's party and was blocked from huge tracts of rebel-held territory, while dissenters were jailed.
Yet India, Laos and Thailand -- neighbouring nations sharing unavoidable border issues with Myanmar -- have all welcomed Min Aung Hlaing since he became civilian president.
Defending the decision to host the Myanmar leader in Bangkok last month, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters: "It's not about legitimacy, it's about reality."
Min Aung Hlaing was also recently feted during visits to steadfast allies Russia and Belarus.
China -- which previously backed him behind the scenes, according to analysts -- also granted him a red carpet welcome in Beijing in June. -- AFP
