VIENTIANE: In the ongoing 45th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Lao PDR, the President of the National Assembly of Thailand, Mr. Wan Muhammad Nor Matha, expressed concerns about the progress of peace talks while emphasizing their necessity. He highlighted the importance of establishing a safe area to alleviate suffering, as discussions on the matter remain unsettled. In addition, bilateral talks with Cambodia focused on enhancing border transportation and railway connectivity extending to Vietnam and China.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Van Muhammad Nor Matha held a meeting with Samdech Phra Sapasakdi Khuan Soedary, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia. Cambodia requested Thailand’s assistance in improving border transportation to enhance the movement of goods, trade, and tourism. The proposal includes extending railway connections from Thailand through Cambodia to Vietnam and China, while Thailand could potentially connect to Malaysia and Singapore, completing a regional transport networ
k.
The dialogue also addressed issues related to cross-border crime, specifically a call center gang exploiting Cambodian territory to defraud Thai citizens. The Cambodian Prime Minister has been actively involved in cracking down on this network, which has now relocated to border areas. Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, alongside the NBTC, is tasked with addressing the issue.
In another bilateral discussion, Malaysia’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tan Sri Dato’ Johari bin Abdul, engaged with the Thai delegation on labor and tourism facilitation. Thailand requested streamlined visa and work permit processes for Thai nationals working in Malaysia. Malaysia agreed to consider legislative amendments to accommodate this request. Both nations also discussed enhancing road tourism and food security cooperation, with Malaysia expressing interest in supporting Thailand’s land bridge project.
Mr. Wan Muhammad Nor Matha noted that the unrest in Thailand’s southern border provinces was n
ot addressed in the current discussions due to time constraints, with plans to revisit the topic in future meetings. He reaffirmed the importance of continued dialogue, despite the slow progress, emphasizing that achieving a safe area could significantly improve economic conditions and reduce local suffering.
In parallel discussions, Thai MPs and Senators participated in various committee meetings, focusing on political, economic, and social issues, as well as addressing regional concerns such as the unrest in Myanmar and transnational crime. Mr. Rangsiman Rome, a Prachachon Party MP, highlighted these discussions, underscoring ASEAN’s role in finding solutions and enhancing digital equality to combat issues like the call center gang problem.