Thai PM calls for new chapter in ties with Cambodia after Cebu talks

It was time for Thailand and Cambodia to look ahead and open a new chapter in relations based on sincerity, goodwill and a shared determination to overcome challenges, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today.

As close neighbours with deep connections across multiple dimensions, both countries must move beyond conflict, which brings loss and hardship to all, he said.

Anutin was speaking after attending a trilateral meeting with his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Cebu.

The meeting was initiated by Marcos in his capacity as ASEAN chair and focused on the situation between Thailand and Cambodia.

Following the talks, the three leaders held a joint press briefing in alphabetical order, beginning with the Philippine president as ASEAN chair, followed by the Cambodian prime minister and the Thai prime minister.

Anutin said both countries had assigned their foreign ministers to work together on practical confidence-building measures, starting with areas of common ground that can be implemented immediately.

Such steps would be crucial in rebuilding trust and gradually restoring strong bilateral relations, he said.

From left, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. walks prior to a trilateral meeting ahead of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Cebu, central Philippines, Thursday, May 7.//AP

He described the meeting as constructive, candid and forward-looking, according to Thai government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek.

The Thai leader added that both sides should proceed step by step in the same direction, with greater direct communication at all levels to reduce misunderstandings and expand cooperation in mutually beneficial areas.

On land and maritime boundary issues, Anutin proposed continued discussions based on good neighbourly relations, aimed at finding peaceful and lasting solutions.

Photo: AFP

He said the meeting marked an important step toward creating an environment conducive to peace and regional cooperation, reaffirming Thailand’s readiness to work constructively with all parties based on mutual understanding, respect and shared interests.

Meanwhile, Hun Manet said his discussions with Anutin focused on de-escalation and trust-building measures aimed at restoring and consolidating a functioning framework for lasting peace and normalised relations.

Both sides also discussed resuming existing bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), General Border Committee (GBC) and Regional Border Committee (RBC), now that Thailand’s new government has assumed full functionality, Hun Manet said.

On overlapping maritime claims, he said future approaches were also discussed, reaffirming Cambodia’s decision to initiate compulsory conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) following Thailand’s move to scrap the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding.

“Cambodia believes this is a peaceful path toward a fair solution for both parties,” he said.