P

resident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has assured visiting Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Indonesia’s support for Thailand’s territorial integrity in southern border areas.

Indonesia is the second country Yingluck, the first female prime minister of Thailand, has visited after Brunei since she took office a month ago.

During the meeting, Yudhoyono said that Indonesia, the current chair of ASEAN, a grouping which also includes Thailand and Cambodia, would continue to help resolve a long-standing border dispute between the two countries.

“I express Indonesia’s commitment once more to fully support the integrity of Thailand’s territory, including Thailand’s efforts to resolve problems in southern areas,” Yudhoyono said in a joint press conference after the meeting.

“We fully support political and peace efforts to deal with problems in southern Thailand as well as efforts to increase the people’s welfare.”

Yudhoyono also hailed the plan by Yingluck to visit Cambodia, slated on Thursday, to seek solutions to border disputes with Cambodia around the Preah Vihear Temple.

“Indonesia, as chair of ASEAN, will be part of the process.”

Yingluck praised Indonesia, which she said was a moderate Muslim-majority country with the largest Muslim population in the world, for its great role in linking Thailand with other Muslim countries.

“In this regard, I deeply appreciate President Yudhoyono’s full understanding of the Royal Thai government’s policy in the southern border provinces, and for the government of Indonesia’s support in providing scholarships for Thai students from southern border provinces as well as the cooperation within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation [OIC],” she said.

“I have assigned the minister of foreign affairs of Thailand and the Thai ambassador to Indonesia to follow up the discussions during this visit to ensure a concrete outcome in the near future which will benefit our two countries and peoples.”

Both Yudhoyono and Yingluck also agreed to boost the two countries’ cooperation on the economy, fisheries, agriculture, energy and military among other issues.

“On bilateral issues, the President and I are satisfied with the close and dynamic relations between Thailand and Indonesia in all aspects and levels,” Yingluck said.

“I assured the President of the Royal Thai government’s firm commitment to working closely with the government of Indonesia to further strengthen our relations for the mutual benefit of our two countries and peoples.”

The trade volume between the two countries reached US$12 billion in 2010, a 34 increase from the previous year’s.