Thailand and Cambodia signed a ceasefire deal in Malaysia on Thursday. The deal aims to bring a long-term halt to the fighting that has claimed dozens of lives and driven about 330,000 people from their homes.
Mediated by Malaysia as this year's ASEAN chair, Thursday's meetings involved senior military personnel, the defense minister of Cambodia and acting defense minister of Thailand, and the ambassadors of China and the United States.
According to a joint statement following the talks hosted at the Malaysian Ministry of Defense, both sides of conflict agreed to a ceasefire involving all types of weapons, pledging to avoid unprovoked firing towards each other's positions or troops, and agreed not to increase forces along the border.
"The discussions held today reflect the shared understanding that ceasefire is not merely a pause, but a promise -- a promise to protect lives, to uphold dignity and to prevent further suffering. That promise must be honored through firm commitment, effective monitoring and sincere political will from both sides," said Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Minister of Home Affairs of Malaysia.
Speaking at a press briefing after the talks, Cambodian Minister of National Defense Tea Seiha said that Cambodia will fully implement the consensus reached and will continue to maintain close coordination and cooperation, demonstrating Cambodia's constructive approach to regional peace.
"This mechanism is of great importance to ensure the sustained and comprehensive implementation, which will serve as the foundation for lasting peace and stability," he said.
Thai Acting Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit stated that this meeting was crucial to bilateral relations and regional peace and expressed the hope that this meeting would serve as an opportunity to work with Cambodia to promote long-term peace.
"The ultimate goal is to enable people on both sides of the border to return to their homes in peace and security," he said.
Thailand, Cambodia reach consensus on ceasefire details
