Thai, Malaysian JDS, JC meetings to be held in Phuket

BANGKOK, December 13 (TNA) - Thailand's southern resort Phuket Province will host the 3rd Thailand-Malaysia Committee on Development Strategy for border areas (JDS) Meeting and the 12th Thailand-Malaysia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JC) Meeting from December 14-15, during which cooperation between the two neighbouring countries in all areas, especially that concerning border issues, will be discussed. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told reporters on Thursday that issues to be raised at the upcoming JDS and JC meetings should include Malaysia's support for approaches to address problems in Thailand's violence-plagued far South, covering probes against people with dual nationalities. Surapong insisted that violent incidents in the southern Thai border region are domestic affairs which Malaysia have understood with cordial concerns and have expressed willingness to help restore peace and order in the Thai deep South, as Kuala Lumpur has successfully liaised for the Philippines. The Thai deputy premier opined that the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN should be peaceful prior to the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by 2015 to boost confidence among international business operators who eye to expand their investment into the region. (TNA)