Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has requested further support from Malaysia to help maintain law and order in the far South.
Gen Prayut made the request during discussions with a Malaysian delegation at Government House yesterday on various types of cross-border cooperation including security measures, said Lt Gen Werachon Sukondhapatipak, a deputy government spokesman.
The visiting Malaysian team was led by Datuk Seri Johari bin Abdul Ghani, the Malaysian second finance minister, and consisted also of executives of business associations in Malaysia.
Gen Prayut pointed out during yesterday's discussions with his Malaysian guests that security is a key factor in sustaining both countries' development, said Lt Gen Werachon.
Gen Prayut also thanked Malaysia for the high number of Malaysian tourists visiting Thailand lately, only second to the number of tourists from China.
The premier said Thailand's tourism promotion policy including the Thailand + 1 tourism promotion campaign should help strengthen Thailand-Malaysian cooperation in tourism.
Mr Johari, meanwhile, proposed that Thailand and Malaysia work towards ramping up their transport connectivity, particularly between the northern parts of Malaysia and the southern parts of Thailand, said Lt Gen Werachon.
Gen Prayut responded to the proposal by assuring him that Thailand is ready to increase the level of connectivity between its transport infrastructure with that of Malaysia to boost border trade and the economy, said Lt Gen Werachon.
The PM also praised the Malaysian business sector for serving as a crucial mechanism in steering Malaysia's trade cooperation both domestically and regionally, said Lt Gen Werachon.
Gen Prayut also encouraged Malaysian business associations to expand their roles in supporting new trade and investment opportunities in Thailand, said Lt Gen Werachon.
