Article 114

Cooperation, dual citizenship for talks with KL

PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR

A progress report on the Joint Development Strategy (JDS) is among issues to be discussed by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his Malaysian counterpart Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when they meet in Phuket on Oct 13.

Foreign Affairs Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said recent progress in the implementation of JDS schemes would be discussed by the leaders during their annual consultation on political and regional issues.

Among the JDS schemes that have met with success is the sharing of experiences from Malaysia's Islamic ponoh schools, particularly the successful combination of religious and mainstream studies for the benefit of their students, he said.

The lessons learned have already been applied in Thailand.

The JDS, signed in August, covers road links, trade, tourism, education, energy, agriculture, disaster relief and human resources.

Among planned projects is a 60-million-baht bridge across the Kolok river linking Narathiwat's Waeng district with Malaysia's Kelantan state, expected to take a year to complete.

The countries will split the construction cost. Mr Surakiart said Mr Abdullah and Mr Thaksin will lay the bridge foundation in Narathiwat on Oct 14.

The bridge would stand as a symbol of cooperation between Thailand's five largely Muslim southernmost provinces and Malaysia's northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan, he said.

Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said the Thai side expects to raise the issues of dual citizenship, increased cooperation against insurgents along the common border, and economic cooperation among Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.