Was gate the “lower gap” between powers, according to Asean.
PUBLISHED: 2 Does 2025 at 03: 30
Officials say Myanmar and international crimes are on top of both countries ‘ agendas as Thailand and Indonesia commemorate their 75th political celebration.
In strategic areas like defense, economy, and people-to-people relations, Thailand and Indonesia could serve as a roadmap for long-standing regional peace and stability, according to Mirza Nurhidayat, director of Southeast Asian affairs at the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry ( MFA ).
At a public website titled “75 Times of Indonesia-Thailand Partnership: Strengthening of a Dynamic Collaboration for Regional Prosperity and Stability,” held on Wednesday by the Institute of Security and International Studies and the Indonesian Embassy at Chulalongkorn University, Mr. Nurhidayat said quite cooperation is particularly serious when it comes to addressing issues of international crimes in Southeast Asia.
More than 600 Citizens have fallen prey to scammers operating out of Myanmar, according to Mr. Nurhidayat. He suggested that Thailand and Indonesia could strengthen surveillance assistance, such as tackling the misuse of technology or sharing the details of legal cases, for potential protective measures, while the repatriation of Indonesian nationals was just facilitated by Thailand.
In regards to Myanmar, Mr. Nurhidayat affirmed Indonesia’s commitment to the five-point consensus, which is an Asean-adopted strategic framework for de-escalation conflicts in the country, and urged Thailand to support the agenda.
He said,” We could be moving forward with [the five-point consensus ] together, hoping for better and more lasting peace in Myanmar.”
Apart from security, Mr. Nurhidayat claimed that the student exchange programs between both countries could improve both countries ‘ ability to foster people-to-people relationships and improve the skills needed by the market to produce a more competent workforce for both countries.
He added that there was less business between the two, as expected. Both sides must therefore exploit the potential of strategic business sectors to boost bilateral trade by working together to create a warm and welcoming business atmosphere.
Suwit Mangkhala, the Thai MFA’s Asean Affairs Department Deputy Director-General, made it clear that both countries had a long history, which contributed significantly to Asean development, making Asean more relevant on a global scale.
Asean’s role could be to bridge the differences or gaps between the great powers, he said, as this relationship might develop in the context of the current geopolitical conflict.