Thailand's Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has signed a Terms of Reference with Myanmar to establish a Joint Working Group tackling toxic contamination in the shared Mekong River (Mae Kok in Chiang Rai), with a 3-year master plan and annual operational plans starting this August. The agreement addresses mining-related pollution and health impacts while partnering with GISTDA on satellite remote-sensing technology; a significant step for downstream Thailand, though implementation remains complex given Myanmar's internal political fragmentation.