KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Thailand have reaffirmed their shared stance on key regional issues, including a commitment to promoting peace and de-escalation in Myanmar.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said both countries were ensuring measures were being taken at various levels to facilitate Myanmar's full participation in Asean.
"What is pertinent is our position on Myanmar. While we are committed to fully implementing the Five-Point Consensus to find a peaceful and durable solution, we are taking measures through informal dialogues at different levels," he said at a press conference following a bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra today.
"This is to ensure Myanmar participates (in Asean) and returns to Asean's fold."
Last month, Anwar reiterated Malaysia's commitment to engaging Asean member states, dialogue partners and international organisations to promote peace and de-escalate the civil war in Myanmar, which has displaced more than three million people.
Myanmar has been a member of Asean since 1997, joining as the bloc's 10th member.
However, its membership has faced significant scrutiny and challenges, particularly following the military coup in February 2021.
Anwar also expressed gratitude to Paetongtarn for Thailand's support in Malaysia's shared position on Timor-Leste's accession as a full Asean member.
"We also share a common position on the South China Sea issue, where we reaffirm the need to address issues peacefully and constructively, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea."