Thailand, Malaysia Focus on Economy, Security in Annual Talk

 

By Ron Corben

Thailand and Malaysia prime ministers began Tuesday annual talks to Wednesday discussing issues ranging from economic development to regional terrorism.

The talks Wednesday between Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Malaysia's Abdullah Badawi addressed a concern to both leaders: How to increase economic development and security in Muslim-dominated regions along the border of the two countries.

Thai government spokesman, Jakrapop Penkair, says the prime ministers have met regularly since violence erupted early this year in southern Thailand.

The attacks are being blamed on Muslim separatists operating in Thailand's Muslim-dominated southern provinces. Thailand has expressed concern that Malaysia was not doing enough to stop the separatists from slipping over the border into largely Muslim Malaysia.

Mr. Jakrapop says both prime ministers are committed to solving the problem.

"The two countries understand each other perfectly¹ well when it comes to the disturbances² in Southern Thailand," he said. "The two leaders agree that we exchange information and intelligence. So security and economic issues are therefore combined in these two meetings."

As the two-day talks began Wednesday, two men were gunned down in southern Thailand by suspected Muslim separatists.

Since the start of the year the death toll³ has topped 350 people, marking one of worst periods of violence in the border provinces.

Earlier this year, Thailand and Malaysia decided⁴ to tackle the problem on an economic front, and formed a committee charged with increasing cross-border development and investment.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Badawi announced at the start of the meetings a $2 million bridge to link Malaysia and Thailand. Both prime ministers will officiate at the groundbreaking on Thursday, saying the bridge is an important symbol of their shared commitment to economic prosperity in the region.

Ron Corben, for VOA News, Bangkok.

注释：
erupt 爆发
disturbance 骚动
suspected 可疑的
death toll 死亡人数
tackle 解决

 

1 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

2 disturbances   

n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍

参考例句：

• The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. 政府成立了一个委员会来调查监狱骚乱事件。
• Extra police were called in to quell the disturbances. 已调集了增援警力来平定骚乱。

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。