{"id":16287,"date":"2023-02-08T21:26:25","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T13:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/?p=16287"},"modified":"2023-02-08T21:26:26","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T13:26:26","slug":"anwars-visit-to-thailand-expected-to-explore-new-collaborations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/?p=16287","title":{"rendered":"Anwar\u2019s visit to Thailand expected to explore new collaborations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>BANGKOK, Feb 8<\/strong> &#8212; Anwar Ibrahim\u2019s official visit to Thailand starting Thursday is expected to expand existing cooperation and to explore new collaborations between the two neighbouring countries\u00a0in the post pandemic economic recovery.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Director at the Centre of ASEAN Regionalism Universiti Malaya (CARUM), Dr Rahul Mishra said Malaysia and Thailand had established bilateral cooperation in various sectors to stimulate growth and development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo further deepen cooperation between the two countries, Malaysia and Thailand can explore new areas of cooperation including defence and cross-border infrastructure development.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWith its strong defence forces and capabilities in the region, Malaysia is keen to learn and work with Thailand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWorking with fellow ASEAN countries is certainly more productive, beneficial and trustworthy,\u201d he told Bernama.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rahul said Malaysia and Thailand could also explore\u00a0collaboration to work towards undertaking cross border infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM-1024x554.png\" alt=\"visit\" class=\"wp-image-16288\" width=\"474\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM-1024x554.png 1024w, https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM-768x415.png 768w, https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM-185x100.png 185w, https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM-350x189.png 350w, https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM-800x433.png 800w, https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM.png 1176w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He added that Malaysia and Thailand may compete in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector but the two countries also complement each other in cross-border tourism and supply chain.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malaysia and Thailand have set a bilateral trade target of US$30 billion (RM126 billion) by 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2022, Thailand was Malaysia\u2019s 7th largest trading partner globally and the 3rd largest among ASEAN countries, with total trade amounting to RM122.03 billion (US$27.75 billion), an increase of 17.9 per cent, compared to the recorded value in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anwar will undertake his maiden two-day official visit to Thailand starting Thursday, where he will hold a meeting with his Thai counterpart Prayuth Chan o-cha&nbsp;to discuss the way forward in strengthening the multifaceted cooperation&nbsp;between Malaysia and Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anwar and Prayuth will witness the exchange of four Memoranda&nbsp;of Understanding&nbsp;in the fields of energy cooperation and digital economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is Anwar\u2019s fourth international official visit after Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore since he was sworn in as the 10th Prime Minister on&nbsp;Nov 24, last year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Rahul said Anwar\u2019s visit to Thailand is expected to revitalise peace negotiations in the south,&#8221;which&nbsp;he has always been keen on&#8221;.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said&nbsp; the new Malaysian chief facilitator Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin,&nbsp;would be able to&nbsp;make a breakthrough in the decade long peace process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is not an easy task, however it is a positive sign that the current&nbsp; government is interested in the peace process and keen to work with the Thai government and separatist groups,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, senior lecturer at the Institute for Peace Studies of Prince of Songkla University, Assistant Prof Dr Srisompob Jitpiromsri&nbsp;said he believes Anwar would play&nbsp;a significant role in the peace process following&nbsp;his expertise and longstanding connection with people in the southern provinces.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe has strong relationship with the people especially with local leaders including the politicians, religious leaders, Muslim academicians&nbsp;and intellectuals. Therefore, he can bring in more people or groups to help and consolidate the peace process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe (Anwar) knows and understands the conflict. Therefore, he can play his role to strengthen the peace dialogue,\u201d he told Bernama.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/\">NMT<\/a> as reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bernama.com\/en\/news.php?id=2162834\">Bernama<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BANGKOK, Feb 8 &#8212; Anwar Ibrahim\u2019s official visit to Thailand starting Thursday is expected to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[524],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nation"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM.png",1176,636,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM-300x162.png",300,162,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM-768x415.png",640,346,true],"large":["https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM-1024x554.png",640,346,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM.png",1176,636,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM.png",1176,636,false],"newsium-slider-full":["https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM.png",1176,636,false],"newsium-featured":["https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM.png",1024,554,false],"newsium-medium":["https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-08-at-9.24.34-PM.png",720,389,false]},"author_info":{"info":["Editor"]},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/?cat=524\" rel=\"category\">Nation<\/a>","tag_info":"Nation","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16287"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16287\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16289,"href":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16287\/revisions\/16289"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}