KUALA LUMPUR, August 22, SPA -- Malaysia and Thailand must make greater efforts to increase trade and investment between them, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday night. He pointed out that while Malaysia and Thailand were important partners in trade and investment but both countries traded and invested more in other countries. "An enhancement of our bilateral trade and investment relations will not only be mutually beneficial but will also bring our two countries closer to each other," he said when speaking at a dinner in honour of visiting Thailand Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont at the Petroleum Club in the Petronas Twin Towers. BERNAMA news agency quoted Abdullah as saying that Malaysia would continue working closely with Thailand to enhance the significance of Asean for the good of the region. He said Malaysia would cooperate with Thailand in ensuring peace and security in the wider East Asia region and the world. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/476746