By Kenny Teng (Bernama)
Bangkok, April 16 – Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim will make an official visit to Thailand on Thursday, April 17. He is scheduled to meet with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and cross-border cooperation.
Bong Yik Chui, Chargé d’affaires of the Malaysian Embassy in Thailand, said the Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with PM Paetongtarn at Government House on Thursday.
“After the meeting, both prime ministers will witness the signing of a construction agreement related to a flood prevention and river dredging project for the Golok River.”
The talks are expected to continue from the outcomes of the 7th Annual Malaysia–Thailand Consultation Meeting held in Putrajaya on December 16 last year.
Anwar is set to arrive Thursday afternoon at the Royal Thai Air Force’s VIP Terminal 2 near Don Mueang Airport on a special flight, for a two-day visit.
This marks Anwar’s second visit to Thailand since assuming office in 2022, following his first visit in 2023 when he met former Thai PM General Prayuth Chan-o-cha.
Bong said the PM will be accompanied by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul, Minister of Works Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin, and ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar Tan Sri Othman Hashim.
The agreement on the Golok River project will be signed by Nanta and Thai Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit.
During the visit, Anwar is also expected to meet Myanmar junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to push for an extended ceasefire with resistance groups and to support earthquake-related humanitarian aid. The time and venue have not been confirmed.Bong added that Anwar will also meet with Thai business leaders and industrial representatives at a hotel in Bangkok.
In the evening, Anwar is scheduled for a private meeting with former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra to discuss the Myanmar peace process and U.S. tax issues.
They will then attend a dinner hosted by an informal advisory group, which includes representatives from Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.Prime Minister Anwar is scheduled to return to Malaysia on April 18.
In 2024, Thailand was Malaysia’s 7th largest global trading partner and 3rd in ASEAN, with total trade valued at USD 25.03 billion (RM 114.56 billion).
From January to February this year, bilateral trade reached USD 3.96 billion (RM 17.65 billion), an increase from USD 3.67 billion (RM 16.80 billion) during the same period in 2024.
