MALAYSIA READY TO EXTEND SUPPORT TO ENSURE PEACE IN SOUTHERN THAILAND

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), Aug 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is ready to extend
its support to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in southern Thailand,
which are vital to the security and development of both countries, Foreign
Minister Anifah Aman said Thursday.

He said Malaysia noted the Thai government had given the highest priority to
finding the best solution to solved the problems in the area.

"This clearly marks the determination and commitment of the Thai government
in wanting to resolve the difficult situation there, he said in his opening
remarks at the Eleventh Meeting of the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Commission for
Bilateral Cooperation here, the capital city if East Malaysia state of Sabah.

Anifah said Malaysia and Thailand shared a close bond of friendship and had
collaborated closely together as important partners in forming and expanding the
scoop of cooperation.

"Malaysia believes this meeting will provide the impetus for progress to be
achieved in our effort to promote greater cooperation in various areas and in
exploring new areas for economic and social development that will benefit both
our countries," he said.

He said the meeting would be able to continue to foster a warmer
relationship between the two countries.

Anifah hoped that the collaboration forged between the two countries through
the formation of the "3E" (Education, Entrepreneurship, and Employment)
initiatives could act as effective confidence building measure tools to create
and promote peace and security in the southern border provinces of Thailand.

"Under the education intiative, I hope that the southern Thai youths who
attend the study visits to learn about multicultural, multiethnic and
multi-religious Malaysia will return and be able to contribute to their
communities," he said.

He said that apart from the 3Es, efforts to promote economic and social
developments were an indispensable tool in building trust and confidence that
would eventually bring about peace and reconciliation in southern Thailand.

"The implementation of infrastructure projects, training of human capital
through education and others are already showing positive results."

Anifah also urged both sides to convene the first meeting of the Joint
Working Group on Promoting Labour Cooperation and explore possible ideas and
programmes to further enhance labour cooperation between the two countries.

He said the agenda of Thursday's meeting encompassed a number of issues,
including cooperationn along the border areas, boundary demarcation,
communication and transportation, trade and investment, agriculture, education,
Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle, sciene and technology, information
and cooperation on confidence building measures.

"I'm confident that in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation, we will
be able to find mutually satisfactory resolutions on both outstanding and new
issues," he said.

On trade, Anifah said that Malaysia and Thailand are important trading
partners.

"Our total bilateral trade increased from US$15 billion in 2006 to US$19.6
billion in 2008. Thai investments in Malaysia also grew from US$32 billion in
2006 to US$43 billon in 2008 in the areas of food manufacturing and
petrochemicals," he said.

He said Malaysian investments in Thailand grew from US$29 billion in 2006 to
US$35 billion till the third quarter of 2008 in the areas of construction,
financing, insurance and real estate.

Anifah believed there was still room for both countries to explore futher
areas of potential and opportunities to further improve the country's trade and
investment.

He said Malaysia remained steadfast in its commitment to the Joint
Development Strategy (JDS) for Border Areas process.

Under the JDS, several activities and projects had been carried out and one
notable project was the launch of the "second bridge" between Bukit Bunga,
Kelantan and Buketa, Narathiwat.

"Malaysia hopes we could expedite all the necessary measures related to the
ownership, management, maintenance and use of the second bridge which should
result in the signing of an agreement soon."

Anifah said it would be opportune for both the prime ministers of Malaysia
and Thailand to officiate at the renaming of the bridge during the 4th annual
consultations "which we have agreed to convene".
-- BERNAMA