OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND TO MALAYSIA 16 DECEMBER 2024

OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND TO MALAYSIA 16 DECEMBER 2024

Prime Minister of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra will undertake an official visit to Malaysia on 16 December 2024 at the invitation of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. This is Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's first visit to Malaysia since assuming office in August 2024.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will be accorded an official welcoming ceremony at Perdana Putra Complex, Putrajaya, to be followed by a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Both leaders will also chair the 7 th Malaysia-Thailand Annual Consultation (AC). A Joint Press Statement will be issued following the AC.

During the 7 th AC, both Prime Ministers are expected to take stock of bilateral relations and explore potential further collaboration between the two close neighbouring countries, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Earlier, on 6 August 2024, the Foreign Ministers of Malaysia and Thailand had chaired the 15th Joint Commission Meeting for Bilateral Cooperation and the 6 th Meeting of the Committee on the Joint Development Strategy for Border Areas between Malaysia and Thailand, held in Kuala Lumpur.

Following the 7 th AC, both leaders are scheduled to witness the exchange of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU); an MoU on Co-operation in the Field of Culture, Arts and Heritage and an MoU for Development of Rubber Industry and Economic Cooperation.

This visit is also part of the exchange of visits at the leaders' level this year, following the working visit of the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Thailand to Sungai Golok, Thailand and Rantau Panjang, Malaysia on 3 August 2024. The visit further reaffirms the longstanding friendship and close ties between the two countries as close neighbours and partners in ASEAN.

In 2023, Thailand was Malaysia's sixth-largest trading partner globally and second-largest among ASEAN Member States, with total trade amounting to USD24.83 billion (RM113.16 billion). Between January and October 2024, bilateral trade has reached USD20.75 billion (RM95.50 billion), compared to USD20.69 billion (RM94.37 billion) for the corresponding period in 2023.

PUTRAJAYA

15 December 2024