Cambodian citizens embrace ceasefire agreement between Cambodia, Thailand

Cambodian citizens are welcoming the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, viewing it as a crucial step towards lasting peace and stability in the region.

Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday signed an agreement on ceasefire arrangements, representatives of the two countries said after an extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) meeting held in the Malaysian capital.

According to a joint statement following the talks hosted at the Malaysian Ministry of Defense, both sides 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.

Following the agreement, many people in Phnom Penh expressed their support for the decision.

"When conflicts occur between two countries, both civilians and soldiers can suffer casualties. By reaching such an agreement, they can return home and reunite with their families," said Roth Kakda, a local resident.

"I'm very happy that the refugees can return home now," said Hong Srey Mao, another resident.

According to a United Nations report, following the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand at midnight on July 28, more than 130,000 Cambodian refugees are still unable to return home and are struggling to meet their basic needs. In addition, around 600 schools remain closed, leaving more than 150,000 students out of school.

To address this situation, many people in Phnom Penh organized donations to send supplies to border areas to help improve the living conditions of the refugees.

"As a Cambodian, I hope that both Cambodia and Thailand will develop peacefully. It is the innocent civilians who suffer the most from war," said Ly Ly, a business owner.

"We've prepared some medical supplies to donate to the refugees at the border, and we'll keep organizing donations of other essential items. We're really happy that the peace agreement has been reached. Our goal is to help the refugees return to their normal lives and go back home," said Somay, another business owner.

Cambodian citizens embrace ceasefire agreement between Cambodia, Thailand

China is willing to strengthen communication, enhance trust, eliminate interference, and deepen cooperation with Canada to bring bilateral relations forward on a steady and sound track in solid strides under the new circumstances, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in Beijing on the day.

Referring to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to China, the first by a Canadian prime minister in eight years, Wang said the trip marks a milestone in bilateral ties and signals a turning point in the relationship.

The leaders of the two countries will hold meetings and talks, which are expected to open up new prospects for bilateral relations, said Wang.

The world today is undergoing profound and complex changes, and the impact of China-Canada relations transcends the bilateral scope, Wang noted.

Wang said that China and Canada have different social systems, stemming from different historical and cultural heritage, and based on the choices of their respective people.

He urged both sides to view each other in a rational and amicable manner with an inclusive mindset, handle issues on the basis of mutual respect, focus on the agenda of cooperation, and send positive messages so as to foster optimism, inject greater confidence into the development of bilateral relations, and jointly build a new type of strategic partnership between China and Canada.

Anand said the new Canadian government attaches great importance to relations with China. She also added that Prime Minister Carney looks forward to engaging in in-depth exchanges with Chinese leaders during the visit to set the course for the development of bilateral relations, resume dialogue in various fields, pursue more mutually beneficial outcomes, enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, and further advance the strategic partnership between the two countries.

China ready to work for steady, sound ties with Canada: FM