KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Thailand are to discuss cooperation in trade and investment as well as prevention of human trafficking and security along the border areas.

The discussions will be held at the 13th Joint Commission (JCM) for Bilateral Cooperation and fourth Joint Development Strategy (JDS) for Border Areas ministerial meetings between the two countries here on tomorrow and Thursday.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman will jointly chair the meetings with his Thai counterpart, Don Pramudwinai.

Wisma Putra said in a statement that the meetings would discuss bilateral issues, in particular security cooperation along the border areas, including prevention of human trafficking and confidence-building measures in southern Thailand.

They would also discuss cooperation in rubber trade and production and in the halal industry, the statement said.

“The meetings will also explore new areas of cooperation that would further enhance and strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Thailand," it added.

A senior officials meeting will precede the ministerial sessions.

The JCM and JDS would review the progress of bilateral cooperation and follow up on the decisions made by the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Thailand in their meetings in Putrajaya on Dec 1, 2014, the statement said.

The JCM and JDS are held alternately in the two countries. The last ministerial meetings were held in Phuket on Dec 14 and 15, 2013. — Bernama