Thailand, M'sia pledge closer ties

Thailand and Malaysia yesterday vowed to strengthen their already excellent relations and reaffirm their commitment to further expanding and deepening cooperation on politics and the economy in the countdown to the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

They aim to take advantage of liberalisation initiatives under the AEC, according to a joint press statement issued after a meeting between visiting Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak.

Meeting at the fifth Malaysian-Thai Annual Consultation, the leaders also witnessed the signing of the Agreement on Cross-Border Transportation and a memorandum of understanding on youth and sports cooperation.

Yingluck's one-day visit was at the invitation of the Malaysian government and was the second following her first state visit in February 2012.

The press statement said the leaders shared the view that both countries should work towards greater harmonisation of the radio frequency spectrum in the border region.

"The alignment of radio frequency spectrum plans would allow both countries to meet growing demand for digital TV and mobile broadband, improve regional mobile roaming and provide more constructive mobile broadband service," it said.

Regarding the increasing number of illegal Thai workers in Malaysia, particularly those in tom-yum restaurants, Yingluck reiterated her government's desire to work closely with Malaysia in solving the problems.

The statement said both leaders reaffirmed their strong support for business and economic cooperation between the private sectors on both sides of the border in oil and gas, power, automotive, commodities, rubber and tourism industries.