PM stresses on sound Thailand-Malaysia relations

BANGKOK, January 7 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has stressed on sound bilateral relations between Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, following his Malaysian counterpart Najib Tun Razak's private visit to Thailand during recent New Year holidays. Prime Minister General Prayut told journalists on Tuesday, after the Cabinet's weekly meeting at Bangkok's Government House, that he met his Malaysian counterpart during the latter's private New Year trip to Thailand, when the Malaysian leader thanked Thailand for providing assistance to flood victims in Malaysia. The Thai premier elaborated that his Malaysian counterpart expressed his thankfulness for the Thai government's dispatch of 500 tonnes of rice and relief officials to assist people affected by the worst flooding in Malaysia recently, which showed sound bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries. The Thai prime minister revealed that he and his Malaysian counterpart did not raise any special issue during the New Year meeting. Regarding progress on peace dialogues between representatives of the Thai government and insurgent groups in the Thai deep South, the Thai leader said Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur have continually coordinated on the issue and the Malaysian government, as the facilitator of the ongoing peace process, has taken quick actions to help contact insurgent groups to join the peace negotiations with the Thai security authorities. The Thai leader insisted that his government is ready for the new-round peace talks anytime. (TNA)