Cambodia and Thailand have made progress in border discussions held under the facilitation of the Philippines as ASEAN Chair, following a trilateral meeting aimed at advancing peaceful resolution of longstanding disputes.
Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr said the talks between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul produced several agreements and reaffirmed commitments to dialogue, restraint, and de-escalation along the shared border.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Marcos said both sides demonstrated a shared belief in resolving differences peacefully, noting that “many subjects have been covered” and “ways forward have been discussed” during the meeting.
He said both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining open communication channels and avoiding actions that could escalate tensions, while tasking their foreign ministers to continue “open and candid” engagement to sustain progress.
Marcos also welcomed the extension of the ASEAN Observer Team mandate for another three months and reaffirmed the Philippines’ role as coordinator, stressing its importance in monitoring and verifying compliance with agreed measures.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul both thanked Marcos for convening the talks, describing the discussions as constructive and supportive of regional peace efforts.
Both sides agreed to continue pursuing confidence-building measures through diplomatic channels, with ASEAN maintaining its emphasis on dialogue and peaceful settlement of disputes.
