Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra Begins Official Visit to Malaysia
Putrajaya, The Gulf Observer: Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was officially welcomed to Malaysia on Monday, marking her maiden visit to the country since assuming office in August 2023.
The official welcoming ceremony was held at Dataran Perdana, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim greeted Paetongtarn and her husband, Pitaka Suksawat, upon their arrival at 9:00 AM.
Official Ceremonies and Bilateral Discussions
Prime Minister Paetongtarn inspected a guard of honour, mounted by three officers and 102 members of the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, as well as Cabinet ministers, foreign diplomats, and senior government officials.
Following the ceremony, Paetongtarn and Anwar held a bilateral meeting and co-chaired the 7th Malaysia-Thailand Annual Consultation (AC). Discussions at the consultation focused on:
- Enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in border area development and economic collaboration.
- Regional and international issues of mutual interest, with a focus on advancing ASEAN cooperation.
Strengthening Bilateral Agreements
The two leaders also witnessed the exchange of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs):
- An MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Culture, Arts, and Heritage, aimed at fostering stronger cultural ties.
- An MoU on Development of the Rubber Industry and Economic Cooperation, targeting joint growth in a vital sector for both nations.
These agreements build on discussions from earlier bilateral engagements, including the 15th Joint Commission Meeting for Bilateral Cooperation and the 6th Meeting of the Committee on the Joint Development Strategy for Border Areas, held in Kuala Lumpur in August 2024.
Celebrating Strong Bilateral Relations
Wisma Putra highlighted that the visit reaffirms the longstanding friendship and close ties between Malaysia and Thailand, as close neighbours and key ASEAN partners.
“This visit is part of the ongoing exchange of visits at the leaders’ level, following the working visit by the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Thailand to Sungai Golok, Thailand, and Rantau Panjang, Malaysia, on August 3, 2024,” Wisma Putra stated.
Growing Trade Partnership
Economic ties remain a cornerstone of Malaysia-Thailand relations. In 2023, Thailand was Malaysia’s sixth-largest trading partner globally and second-largest within ASEAN, with total trade valued at USD24.83 billion (RM113.16 billion).
From January to October 2024, bilateral trade reached USD20.75 billion (RM95.50 billion), reflecting continued robust economic collaboration.
A Vision for Regional Cooperation
This historic visit underscores the commitment of both nations to strengthening their bilateral partnership and advancing shared goals within ASEAN, while fostering peace, prosperity, and sustainable development in the region.
