Thailand's foreign minister arrives for 2-day Malaysia visit

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow touched down in Malaysia tonight for a two-day working visit. The delegation landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at 8.40pm on an aircraft operated by a commercial airline. Upon arrival, Sihasak was greeted by Datuk Rozainor Ramli, the Chief of Ceremony for the Prime Minister's Department.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had announced yesterday that he would meet with Sihasak the following day to discuss enhancing security in southern Thailand, as well as bilateral matters between the two nations. Hasan stated that Malaysia had been chosen by Thailand as a facilitator in negotiations with relevant parties to promote peace in the region.

The visit forms part of the customary exchange of high-level visits between Malaysia and Thailand, highlighting the strong, enduring, and multifaceted relationship between these two neighboring and fellow ASEAN member states. The statement from Wisma Putra emphasized that the visit reflects both countries' commitment to maintaining close consultations and advancing mutually beneficial cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas.

Thailand is Malaysia's sixth-largest trading partner worldwide and the second-largest among ASEAN member states in 2025, with total trade reaching RM118.57 billion (US$27.73 billion) in the same period. Between January and July of this year, bilateral trade amounted to RM85.01 billion (US$21.13 billion), compared to RM66.95 billion (US$16.64 billion) during the corresponding period last year, indicating sustained growth in economic ties between the two countries.