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Minister of Foreign Affairs from Cambodia and Thailand Meetings were held with Chinese counterparts on Monday Beijing The government is expanding its influence on the world diplomatic stage as it seeks to play a stronger mediating role in the violent border dispute between the two Southeast Asian countries.
The trilateral meeting, held in China’s southwestern province north of the disputed border, came two days after Thailand and Cambodia signed a new ceasefire agreement, ending weeks of fighting that killed more than 100 people and forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the border.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi Calling for joint efforts to promote regional peace, stability and development, this is the typical language of the two countries China in this case.
“Rekindling the war is definitely not what the two peoples want, nor is it what China, as your friend, wants to see. Therefore, we should look forward firmly and keep moving forward,” Wang Yi said at a meeting in Yunnan province on Monday.
Notably, the meeting was held closer to the disputed region and Southeast Asia, rather than in Beijing, about 1,300 miles (2,500 kilometers) northeast of China’s capital and seat of government.
expressed hope for peace
Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said he believed the latest ceasefire would last and would create an environment for the two countries to work to improve relations and resume previously agreed ways of resolving differences, according to a Chinese translator.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sissak Pongkejo also expressed hope for peace with the neighbor, the translation said.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs later said in a statement that China had volunteered to become a platform to support peace between the two countries, and Thailand reiterated that the adjustment of relations should be “progressive.”
“Thailand will consider releasing the 18 soldiers after the end of the 72-hour ceasefire observation period and ask Cambodia to facilitate the return of Thais along the border,” the ministry said.
One day after the new agreement was signed, Western Kazakhstan and Prasokhon met separately with Wang on Sunday, the first day of a two-day meeting.
The meetings represent China’s latest efforts to strengthen its role as an international mediator, particularly in regional crises in Asia. As China has developed and become a regional and global economic and political force, Beijing has worked in various ways over the past decade or so to increase its voice as a third party in foreign affairs.
The controversy continues
The two Southeast Asian countries initially agreed to a ceasefire in July. The deal was brokered by Malaysia and driven by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to revoke trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed. The preliminary agreement was followed by a more detailed one in October.
But Thailand and Cambodia engage in a fierce propaganda war and minor cross-border violence continues. In early December, tensions escalated into fierce fighting.
Saturday’s deal requires Thailand to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers held since fighting earlier in July after a 72-hour ceasefire. Their release is a major demand of Cambodia.
The agreement also calls on both sides to adhere to international agreements against the deployment of landmines, a major concern for Thailand.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Mane on Monday issued a statement to all Cambodian fighters along the Thai border.
“While we can still fight,” he said, “as a small country, there is still no benefit in prolonging the fight for a long time.”
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Sopheng Cheang in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.