"In the middle of next week, I will visit Malaysia to talk about bilateral cooperation as friendly countries who share a common border," he said.

Surayud said he had already discussed the insurgency in southernmost provinces with Malaysia's ambassador in Bangkok, who had voiced optimism that joint cooperation could end more than two years unrest in the Muslim-majority region.

"I received a very positive signal from Malaysia's ambassador," he said.

Surayud met with dozens of ambassadors Thursday, including the Malaysian envoy, in a bid to improve Thailand's battered image after the September 19 coup that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad's office has revealed that he brokered talks between Thai officials and Muslim groups on the Malaysian island of Langkawi late last year, in an attempt to establish a ceasefire.

Earlier Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said that Malaysia will consider hosting peace talks to resolve the insurgency in southern Thailand, but only if asked by the Thai government.

"Only if we are invited we might consider it,'' Najib Razak, who is also the defence minister, told reporters.

"As you know we have hosted talks for southern Philippines," he said, referring to Malaysia's efforts to make peace between the Philippine government and that country's Muslim rebels.

But senior Thai security officials said Friday they do not consider Malaysia to be a neutral party because of geographical proximity.

They said and that hundred of the separatists, including their ageing leaders, reside in Malaysia.

The Bangkok government has continue to downplay the secret peace talks facilitate by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed on the island of Langkawi over this past year, saying it is still too early to predict the future course of direction of the talk.

The Nation/Associated Press