On 27 November 2023, H.E. Mr. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister, welcomed and had a fruitful discussion with Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, at Sadao, Songkhla Province. The Malaysian Prime Minister made a visit upon invitation of the Thai Prime Minister during the latter’s visit to Malaysia on 11 - 12 October 2023.

During the bilateral meeting at the New CIQ Sadao, both Prime Ministers agreed to expedite various cooperation in order to develop Thai-Malaysian border areas and uplift the wellbeing of the people on both sides of the border.

On trade, the Thai Prime Minister asked his Malaysian counterpart to host the next round of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting at the Commerce Minister level to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade volume with the aim to meet bilateral trade target at 30 billion USD by 2025. The two leaders agreed to strengthen the cooperation between chambers of commerce of the two countries at both national and local levels.

On tourism, the Thai Prime Minister informed the Malaysian Prime Minister on the Thai Government’s latest measure to temporarily exempt the filling of TM6 Immigration form for international tourists at the Sadao immigration checkpoint from 1 November 2023, which led to 64 per cent increase of Malaysian tourists during 1 - 22 November 2023 comparing to the same period of last year.

In addition, the Thai Prime Minister asked the Malaysian side to help expedite the consideration on the draft MOU on Cross-Border Transport of Passengers to facilitate the border tourism from Thailand to Malaysia. Both sides also agreed to foster joint activities to promote tourism of both countries.

On agriculture and Halal cooperation, the Thai side proposed the cooperation between the Thai Halal Department, which will be established soon, with the Malaysian concerned agencies. Both Prime Ministers agreed that both countries can complement each other in respect to Halal food industry.

Both Prime Ministers agreed to accelerate the cooperation to combat illegal wildlife trade at the border area and to the third country.

Prime Ministers of Thailand and Malaysia also agreed to expedite key connectivity projects, including (1) the road alignment project connecting the New CIQ Sadao of Thailand with the Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS of Malaysia, and (2) the 2nd Su-ngai Kolok – Rantau Panjang Bridge to stimulate border trade and tourism as well as for the benefit of the people living in the border areas.

After the meeting, the Thai Prime Minister brought his Malaysian counterpart to inspect the connecting point of the road alignment project linking the New CIQ Sadao of Thailand with the Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS of Malaysia. After that, the Prime Minister hosted lunch in honour of the Malaysian Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister of Thailand also made a visit the site of the road alignment project near the Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS of Malaysia at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.