Thai PM Anutin to make first official visit to Malaysia with border connectivity in focus

THAILAND’S Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will begin a two-day official visit to Malaysia tomorrow at the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, marking his first official visit to the country since returning to office in March.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) said the visit underscores the close partnership between the two neighbouring ASEAN member states and forms part of a continuing series of high-level exchanges aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

Upon his arrival, Anutin will be accorded an official welcoming ceremony at the Bunga Raya Complex before holding bilateral talks with Anwar to review the progress of Malaysia–Thailand relations and explore new areas of cooperation.

The discussions are expected to focus on enhancing collaboration in trade and investment, border connectivity, security, agriculture, tourism, education and people-to-people exchanges.

“The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues within the ASEAN framework and other regional cooperation mechanisms,” Wisma Putra said in a statement.

During the visit, Anwar and Anutin will also witness the signing and exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation, reflecting the shared commitment of both governments to deepen collaboration in the sector.

Anwar will later host Anutin and the Thai delegation at an official luncheon.

On the second day of the visit, both prime ministers will travel to Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah, to jointly officiate the opening of the new road linking Malaysia’s Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex with Thailand’s Sadao Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex.

The new cross-border link is expected to improve the movement of people and goods between the two countries while strengthening regional trade and logistics connectivity.

Wisma Putra said the visit follows Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s working visit to Thailand from April 17 to 19, 2025, and the official visit by Thailand’s former prime minister to Malaysia on Dec 16, 2024.

“It reflects the close and warm friendship between Malaysia and Thailand as neighbouring countries and fellow ASEAN Member States,” the ministry said.

Thailand remained Malaysia’s sixth-largest trading partner globally and second-largest among ASEAN member states in 2025, with total bilateral trade reaching RM118.57 billion (US$27.73 billion).

Trade between the two countries continued its upward trajectory in 2026, with bilateral commerce rising to RM31.33 billion (US$7.90 billion) in the January-to-March period, compared with RM27.35 billion (US$6.15 billion) during the corresponding period in 2025, underscoring the growing economic partnership between the two neighbours. - July 8, 2026