Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad promised on Wednesday to do whatever he could to bring peace to the insurgency-plagued southern border region.
Parts of the south of majority-Buddhist Thailand are mostly Muslim, including the three provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani where a decades-old separatist insurgency has killed more than 7,000 people.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he and Dr Mahathir discussed the problems facing Thailand's southern border provinces and agreed on greater cooperation.
“We understand each other better on our concerns and limitations,” Gen Prayut said. “I assured him that the dialogue will continue, with Malaysia as the facilitator.”
“At the same time, the two countries will expand the scope of cooperation to include other areas such as border security, economic development and measures to tackle broader security issues, particularly in countering terrorism, extremism, and transnational crime such as narcotic drugs and human trafficking,'' Gen Prayut said.
"We pledge to help in whatever way possible to end this violence in the South," Dr Mahathir, 92, told reporters after meeting Gen Prayut on his first visit to Thailand since his stunning win in May's general elections.
"It is not just the case of talking or drawing up treaties, it is really a cooperation between two friendly neighbours and we want to continue that friendship," Dr Mahathir said.
Muslim-majority Malaysia has helped to arrange peace talks between successive Thai governments and insurgent groups, but little progress has been made so far.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha claps Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad during a joint press conference at Government House on Wednesday. (AP photo)