Cambodia, Thailand sign joint declaration on peace

Cambodia and Thailand on Sunday signed a joint declaration on peace on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the Malaysian capital.

The declaration was signed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

At the signing ceremony, Hun Manet said Cambodia reaffirms its strong commitment to fully implementing the joint declaration and to continuing close cooperation with Thailand and all partners to ensure lasting peace that brings tangible benefits to people in both countries.

For his part, Anutin said the declaration, if fully implemented, will provide the building blocks for lasting peace and, more importantly, will help mend Thai-Cambodian ties.

Armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai forces broke out on July 24 along their border. The clashes have resulted in more than a hundred deaths and injuries.

On August 7, at an extraordinary meeting held in Malaysia, the two ASEAN member states agreed on the details of a ceasefire and signed an agreement, pledging to maintain current troop deployments without further movement and not to increase forces along the border.