Defence cooperation strengthens Malaysia, Thailand relations

BANGKOK, November 21 (TNA) - Ties and cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand are believed to be further strengthened through the defence area. Thai Deputy Government Spokesman Lieutenant General Werachon Sukondhapatipak told journalists that the remarks were part of Wednesday's talks between visiting Malaysian Minister of Defence Mohamad bin Sabu and Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha at Bangkok's Government House. The deputy government spokesman said that the visiting Malaysian minister of defence and the Thai prime minister also expressed their appreciation to sound security cooperation between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok so far both in the bilateral and the multilateral levels, citing close cooperation between the Malaysian and the Thai governments on issues along the common border as a good example. According to the deputy spokesman, the Thai prime minister also proposed that the Malaysian side quickly deepen borderless connectivity between the two neighboring countries in the ASEAN Community (AC) through the development of a new cross-border road and bridge and the common customs system for mutual benefits. The deputy government spokesman stated that on the occasion, the Thai prime minister also praised the Malaysian government for its constructive role as the facilitator of peace talks between representatives of the Thai government and those of insurgent groups in the Thai Far South so far. The deputy government spokesman quoted the Thai premier as stressing on Bangkok's firm stance on seeking the peaceful solution to the persistent problem of violent unrest in the southernmost Thai region and on welcoming the participation from all sectors in the attempted solution for the sake of sustainable development and prosperity in the southern Thai border region in the future. This week's visit to Thailand by the Malaysian minister of defence followed a recent invitation made by the Thai Ministry of Defence. (TNA)