(AseanAll) — On July 9, 2026, at the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office, Thai Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul had a plenary meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. At the meeting, the two sides came to terms to elevate cooperation in all dimensions. The “Areas of Opportunities” will be built, both in terms of economy, trade, investment, tourism, and security, to benefit quality of life and revenue of people of both countries.
Key agenda of the discussion is to accelerate infrastructure connectivity between Thailand and Malaysia, to make travel more convenient for people, reduce transport costs for goods, and enhance border trade potential. Tomorrow, both the Prime Ministers will jointly open the new Sadao Customs House and the Bukit Kayu Hitam Customs House, which is the highest-value trade crossing between Thailand and Malaysia.
Both sides also agreed to expedite several major projects, including the resumption of ferry services between Satun province and Kuala Perlis, single ticketing system for Bangkok–Hat Yai–Butterworth railway route, restoration of Sungai Kolok–Rantau Panjang railway line, and construction of a new bridge to upgrade travel and logistics across the region. All these will be done alongside infrastructure development.
Additionally, Thailand and Malaysia will jointly promote investment, support local entrepreneurs, create jobs, develop workforce skills, and enhance tourism activities to ensure that the border people benefit inclusively from economic growth.
On security, both countries reaffirmed their cooperation in building peace in Thailand’s Southern border provinces. The two Prime Ministers agreed that economic development and peacebuilding must be driven forward in parallel. They also committed to strengthening collaboration in combating transnational crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and border-related crimes, as well as establishing a joint working group to oversee areas along the Golok River and developing a bilateral flood warning system.
With regard to economic cooperation, both sides set a target to boost bilateral trade value to reach 30 billion US dollars in the near future. They will also promote connection of supply chains in food security, energy, and advanced technology industries. Agriculture ministers of both countries were also assigned to work together to find solutions to open the markets for agricultural and fishery products as quickly as possible.
The two leaders took the occasion to witness an exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding on Agriculture, which covers cooperation in crops, livestock, fisheries, research, technology transfer, personnel development, and strengthening food security for both nations.
As the year 2027 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Malaysia, the Prime Minister has instructed relevant agencies to expedite implementation of the outcomes of this discussion into concrete results, as well as to finalize MOUs currently under preparation between Thai and Malaysian agencies as soon as possible. He also extended an invitation to the Malaysian Prime Minister to pay an official visit to Thailand to discuss continued cooperation that will further benefit the people of both countries.
The Malaysian Prime Minister commended Thailand’s role regarding Myanmar, noting that both Malaysia and Thailand believe the Myanmar issue can only be resolved through constructive participation of all parties. Thailand, as a neighboring country, has continuously provided humanitarian assistance.
On the issue of shrimp and sea bass, Agriculture Ministers of the two countries have already reached a common solution, which will be promptly implemented to ease the problem.
At the plenary meeting, the Thai delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthumjaroen, Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Minister of Labor Julapun Amornvivat, Deputy Minister of Interior Jeseth Thaiseth, Secretary-General of the National Security Council Chatchai Bangchuad, Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center Piyasiri Wattanawarangkool, and Secretary-General of the Internal Security Operations Command Gen. Chaipruk Duangpraphat.
