BANGKOK, Feb. 27 (Xinhua): Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha and his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob pledged on Friday (Feb. 25) to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and work closely together to achieve the post -Recovery Covid-19.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Bangkok, Prayut said Ismail Sabri’s visit to Thailand, the first official visit by a foreign leader to Thailand since the Covid-19 outbreak, underscores relations closeness of the two countries as immediate neighbours.
Amid efforts to revive economic growth and boost tourism, the two leaders agreed to reopen borders for fully vaccinated travelers without quarantine as soon as possible.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promote bilateral trade and investment and continue to work closely together to achieve the bilateral trade target of $30 billion with an extended deadline to 2025, according to a joint press release. .
They also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation, including digital economy, circular and green economy in line with the bio-circular-green economy model towards sustainable development and an inclusive future, as well as a possible collaboration in vaccine research.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported on Saturday February 26 that the government plans to implement the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) with Thailand to revive the country’s tourism industry, Ismail said.
The proposal follows his three-day visit to Thailand and thus boosts the development of the country’s economic sector hit by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years.
“In addition to this, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei have also agreed in principle to the proposed implementation of this VTL,” he said in his speech at the launch of the Citrawarna Keluarga Malaysia program in Kuching.
Ismail Sabri said the VTL between Malaysia and Brunei was agreed following his discussions with the Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah during his recent visit to Brunei.
“The move will not only revive Sarawak’s tourism industry but also boost the economy, especially in Miri, Limbang and Lawas which border Brunei,” he said.