Malaysia backs Bangkok’s efforts on southern unrest
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Saturday (November 2) expressed delight over bilateral relations with Malaysia and assured his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad that his visit to Thailand would lead to even more practical collaborations.
They were meeting at the Asean Summit at Impact Form in Nonthaburi.
Prayut thanked Mahathir for supporting Thailand in its year-long turn as chair of Asean, government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said on Sunday.
Mahathir reaffirmed his cabinet’s support for Thailand’s efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the violent unrest in its three southern border provinces and said Malaysia agrees that its neighbour should remain unified as a nation and free of separatist ambitions.
The countries have agreed to link infrastructure along the border and are prepared to sign a formal pact on cross-border logistics to facilitate the transport of goods between Bangkok and Penang, Johor Bahru and Singapore.
They also agreed to tackle smuggling and contraband on the border and manage tariffs so both sides benefit.
Prayut asked Mahathir to see if Malaysia can import more Thai products to improve the lives of people in the South.