By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock
BANGKOK, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to establish a special working committee to monitor and report on the progress of joint development projects on a regular basis, particularly those under the Joint Development Strategy (JDS) for border areas.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the committee would ensure closer monitoring and regular reviews of the implementation of agreed projects, instead of relying solely on annual bilateral meetings.
Mohamad said he would report the committee’s progress to the Malaysian Cabinet at least once every quarter.
“This is the proof of how two brotherly, neighbouring countries work. We exchange ideas, we discuss, and we agreed today that we are going to form a special working committee to report the progress of the review order, especially on JDS, on a regular basis,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Mohamad was speaking at a joint press conference with Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow after co-chairing the 16th Meeting of the Thailand-Malaysia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JC) and the 7th Meeting of the Joint Development Strategy (JDS) for Border Areas held here.
He said closer monitoring and streamlined implementation of joint projects would help strengthen bilateral cooperation and bring tangible benefits to communities on both sides of the border.
Mohamad said Malaysia and Thailand are also making progress towards their bilateral trade target of US$30 billion (RM122.6 billion) by 2027, having already achieved US$28.5 billion so far.
“If we can enhance and facilitate border trade, I think in no time we can achieve more than US$30 billion,” he said.
Mohamad said Malaysia would adopt a whole-of-government approach to facilitate cooperation, with ministries and agencies working together to improve cross-border connectivity and trade.
He stressed that people-to-people connectivity was equally important, as stronger ties between communities would help encourage business-to-business cooperation and increase investment flows between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Sihasak said both countries had agreed that the Joint Trade Committee should meet at the earliest opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation and sustain trade momentum.
He said the Malaysia and Thailand would work to link special economic zones on both sides of the border, particularly in the rubber and halal industries, while strengthening cooperation on halal certification to boost bilateral trade and expand access to international markets.
Sihasak said the two countries would also continue to improve cross-border payment systems through QR payment linkages and make transactions easier and safer for their people.
-- BERNAMA