Thailand, Singapore agree to further strengthen military cooperation

BANGKOK, May 23 (TNA) - Singapore and Thailand, both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have agreed to further strengthen military cooperation, according to a Thai Defence Ministry spokesman. Spokesman Major General Kongcheep Tantrawanit told reporters that the agreement was made Friday following a meeting between visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Singaporean Defence Minister Ng Eng-Hen on the island state. Both sides agreed to boost military training, education and other related fields, said the spokesman. They also discussed the possibility of joint patrolling along the Malacca Straits, aimed at strengthening economic and transportation security in the region. General Prawit also thanked Singapore for its assistance in the anti-wildfire operation in northern Thailand in March and also informed Ng on the progress of the Thai government’s reform roadmap. (TNA)