The top leaders of Cambodia and Thailand attended a special meeting in Putrajaya on Monday afternoon (July 28) in an effort to reach a ceasefire agreement and stop hostilities in the border area.
The meeting, chaired by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the current ASEAN Chair, aims to ease the escalating tensions and restore stability to the affected border areas.
Acting Thai Prime Minister Puttan arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence in Putrajaya at 2:51pm, followed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, with both welcomed by Anwar.
Attendees included US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard Kagan serving as mediator, and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing as observer.
Last Friday, Anwar contacted Puttan and Hun Manet respectively, urging the leaders of both countries to implement the ceasefire agreement as soon as possible and return to the negotiating table to resolve the dispute.
Earlier, Anwar stated that Malaysia is willing to uphold ASEAN's spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility to help facilitate the peace process.
Cambodia and Thailand have longstanding differences over their 817-kilometer border, which remain unresolved to this day.
Since May 28, when military forces from both countries clashed near Preah Vihear, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier, tensions between the two nations have continued to escalate.
On July 24, the border dispute further escalated, with armed clashes erupting in the northern border areas of Cambodia.