Kuala Lumpur, Dec 22 (NationPress) The Foreign Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened for a 'special meeting' in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday, addressing the escalating tensions between Cambodia and Thailand. They called on both nations to practice restraint and take swift action to halt all forms of hostilities.

The meeting emphasized the importance of ASEAN unity and solidarity, as well as the role of ASEAN Centrality in maintaining regional peace, security, stability, and prosperity, in line with the ASEAN Charter. The participants expressed deep concerns regarding the ongoing conflicts, which have resulted in significant casualties, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and displacement of individuals on both sides of the border, as noted in a statement from the ASEAN Chair.

The ministers urged Thailand and Cambodia to ensure the safe and dignified return of civilians in the affected border areas to their homes and normal livelihoods as they existed prior to the outbreak of hostilities.

The discussions were prompted by renewed conflict along the Cambodia-Thailand border that reignited on December 7, with both countries accusing each other of initiating the violence.

The statement declared, "The Meeting urged Cambodia and Thailand to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps towards the cessation of all forms of hostilities. The Meeting called on both nations to rebuild mutual trust, return to dialogue through bilateral mechanisms, and utilize the good offices of the ASEAN Chair. They also encouraged cooperation on humanitarian demining and military de-escalation along their shared border under the observation of the AOT, while adhering to international law, peaceful coexistence, and multilateral cooperation for a lasting resolution to the situation."

During the meeting, Malaysia provided updates on efforts by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as ASEAN Chair, to mediate between both nations. Cambodia and Thailand presented their respective positions at the meeting.

The attendees revisited the ceasefire arrangement established on July 28, decisions from the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting on August 7, and the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration signed on October 26, 2025, urging Cambodia and Thailand to fully enact them.

The statement concluded, "The Meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to refrain from the threat or use of force, peacefully settle disputes, and respect international boundaries and laws, to promote peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region based on mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity, in line with the United Nations Charter, ASEAN Charter, and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC)."

According to the statement, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers welcomed discussions on resuming the ceasefire and halting hostilities. The GBC is scheduled to meet on December 24, 2025, to discuss the implementation and verification of the ceasefire. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers expressed optimism for a swift de-escalation of tensions.