.png)
PUTRAJAYA - Malaysia and Thailand have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation on border development and connectivity, including transport, logistics and infrastructure projects, to boost economic growth and improve the livelihoods of communities in the border areas.
In a joint statement issued in conjunction with the Official Visit of Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to Malaysia, both sides also looked forward to the 16th Meeting of the Thailand-Malaysia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation and the 7th Ministerial Meeting on the Joint Development Strategy for Border Areas, which will be hosted by Thailand.
The two countries also agreed to convene the 8th Annual Consultation between the two Prime Ministers in Thailand in 2027 at a mutually convenient date to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Malaysia and Thailand.
"Both sides recognised the immense economic potential of the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand and the Northern States of Malaysia, and agreed to increase cooperation in all areas to promote development and improve livelihoods in the border areas,” the statement read.
They also reaffirmed their shared commitment to promote multi-modal connectivity linking the two countries to facilitate cross-border trade as well as the movement of goods and people.
At the same time, both sides welcomed the growing bilateral trade and investment and pledged to enhance cooperation to achieve the bilateral trade target of US$30 billion by 2027.
The statement said both sides welcomed the completion of the road alignment linking the new customs, immigration, and quarantine complex, CIQ Sadao, and ICQS Bukit Kayu Hitam, with the two Prime Ministers scheduled to officiate the opening ceremony on July 10.
Malaysia and Thailand also welcomed continued cooperation to connect the double-track railway along the Ipoh-Padang Besar-Hat Yai corridor to enhance cross-border rail connectivity.
Both sides welcomed the full operationalisation of the Perlis Inland Port (PIP) and agreed to continue coordinating on operational matters, including facilitating cross-border freight movement, customs and quarantine procedures, and other border facilitation measures to enhance logistics efficiency along the border areas.
They also welcomed progress on the 2nd Sungai Kolok-Rantau Panjang Bridge project and ongoing efforts to revive the Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok railway services, while agreeing to continue discussions towards its implementation.
The statement said both countries also welcomed plans to revive the cross-border ferry service between Satun Province and Kuala Perlis, Perlis.
Both sides further welcomed the plan to convene the inaugural meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on Bilateral Cooperation on Transport, to be hosted by Malaysia in 2026, to ensure closer coordination on connectivity projects between the two countries.
On socio-cultural cooperation, Malaysia and Thailand agreed to enhance cooperation to promote two-way tourism through better transportation links by road, rail, air and sea.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in education, including technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and other mutually agreed areas of interest to promote sustainable human capital development in both countries.
The statement said both sides also looked forward to the early conclusion of the Memoranda of Understanding on Cross-Border Transport of Goods and Passengers, Labour Cooperation, Defence Cooperation, Integrated River Basin Management of the Golok River, and Cooperation in the field of Education. - BERNAMA
