By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali, Nor Farah Aqilah Mohd Sham and Nurfardlina Izzati Moktar
KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Driven by strategic cooperation, high-level engagement, and a shared vision for regional development, Malaysia and Thailand are forging a remarkable new chapter in their bilateral ties under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Thai counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Thailand’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Lada Phumas, said bilateral relations have progressed rapidly, particularly following recent high-level engagements between the two prime ministers.
She highlighted the growing cooperation between agencies of both countries, including efforts to strengthen cross-border security and combat cybercrime.
“This is a remarkable time for us. I can describe it as dynamism, high-level engagement, and a shared strategic vision,” she said in an interview on Bernama TV’s The Nation’s Diplomatic Dispatch on Tuesday.
The ambassador said the positive momentum in Malaysia-Thailand relations is expected to continue and contribute directly to regional cooperation, especially during Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship this year.
“Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship is very important, and we are strongly committed to working together under its clear leadership.
“We aim to build regional economic growth, enhance resilience, and promote sustainable development,” she said.
Lada reaffirmed Thailand’s full support for Malaysia’s ASEAN 2025 chairmanship theme of inclusivity and sustainability - values that she said are closely aligned with Thailand’s national priorities.
“This is a motto we share: putting people at the heart of our cooperation. We are advancing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and promoting connectivity through ASEAN’s three pillars, political-security, economic, and socio-cultural,” she said.
She also highlighted Thailand’s role as chair of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which Malaysia’s Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz have championed as key to making ASEAN the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030.
In addition, Lada said Thailand is stepping up cooperation in public health and sustainable development, including through the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases in Thailand to strengthen regional preparedness for future health crises.
On trade, Lada said Malaysia and Thailand are progressing towards their bilateral trade target of US$30 billion by 2027, with last year’s total already reaching US$26 billion.
Of this, 33 per cent comprised border trade, the highest Thailand has with any neighbouring country.
“We’re confident we’ll hit the target. Thailand has already allowed the export of Thai beef to Malaysia starting January 2025, and we hope the approval process will be expedited to boost trade and ensure food security,” she said.
The ambassador also encouraged more Malaysians to visit Thailand, noting that the introduction of the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (T-DEC) has helped streamline entry procedures.
“We recorded 1.5 million Malaysian visitors in just the first four months of 2025, with over 300 weekly flights from Penang, Kota Bharu, and Kuala Lumpur to five Thai destinations,” she said.
She added that Thailand is spearheading a regional tourism initiative dubbed “Six Countries, One Destination” to boost ASEAN-wide travel and economic integration.
“We would love for more Thais and ASEAN friends to also come to Malaysia. This initiative will support both bilateral and regional tourism,” she said.
--BERNAMA
