Amid armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Beijing on the 25th. In addition to expressing sorrow and concern, he also mentioned that the root of the problem lies in the historical legacy left by Western colonialists.
According to Xinhua News Agency, during the meeting, Wang Yi stated that China and ASEAN can currently focus on three areas of cooperation. First, to jointly uphold free trade and the multilateral trading system, as the world cannot return to the law of the jungle; China and ASEAN should strengthen solidarity, resist unilateralism, and uphold WTO rules. Second, to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, continue to properly address the South China Sea issue according to the "dual-track approach," and jointly shape a new narrative of peace, friendship, and cooperation in the South China Sea. Third, to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.
When mentioning the third point, Wang Yi said: "Looking around the world, conflicts and confrontations flare up one after another, and the international situation is intertwined with changes and turbulence. The hard-won peace and stability in East Asia is particularly precious and should be cherished. Recently, the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, which resulted in casualties, is deeply distressing and concerning. The root of this problem is the legacy left by Western colonialists, which now requires calm handling and proper resolution."
He said that China appreciates and supports the rotating ASEAN chair in actively mediating and promoting dialogue and political solutions through the "ASEAN Way". As a common friend and neighbor to both Cambodia and Thailand, China is willing to uphold a fair and impartial position and continue to play a constructive role in promoting de-escalation.
In response, Kao Kim Hourn said that regarding the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, he believes that the leaders of the relevant countries have the political wisdom to resolve this issue. The "ASEAN Way" is feasible, and the rotating ASEAN chair is actively mediating in line with the spirit of the ASEAN Charter. He also thanked China for its active efforts to promote peace and dialogue.