Chinese Foreign Ministry's Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun made a shuttle-diplomacy trip to Cambodia and Thailand to facilitate talks between the two sides regarding their border clashes, the ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.
Deng visited Cambodia and Thailand for shuttle diplomacy from Dec 18 to 23, according to the ministry.
In Cambodia, Deng met with Prime Minister Hun Manet, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Seiha, and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army Mao Sophan.
In Thailand, he met with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit, Supreme Commander Ukrit Boontanon, and Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Eksiri Pintaruchi.
Deng said that China is highly concerned about the border situation between the two countries, and is deeply saddened by the casualties and people displacement caused by the conflict, to which it extends its sincere sympathies.
The priority now is to stop fighting and resume dialog as soon as possible to solve the border dispute through peaceful means, he said.
China supports ASEAN's mediation efforts and supports the ASEAN observer team in playing an important role in monitoring the ceasefire, Deng said, adding that the Chinese side is willing to once again create conditions and provide platform for dialog and negotiation between the two sides.
China hopes that Cambodia and Thailand will work together to restore mutual trust and rebuild peace along the border, he said.
Both Cambodia and Thailand expressed gratitude to China for its consistent efforts to promote peace talks in a manner acceptable to all parties.
They reaffirmed their commitment to peace, expressed their expectation for a sustainable ceasefire, and pledged to maintain close communication with China to de-escalate tensions and restore peace and stability to the Cambodia-Thailand border region at an early date.
Chinese special envoy shuttles to mediate Cambodia, Thailand
