Why Are Thai and Cambodian Officials Meeting in Kuala Lumpur?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Thai and Cambodian officials are meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
- The meeting focuses on resolving border disputes.
- Malaysia serves as a neutral venue for the discussions.
- Both nations express optimism for constructive dialogue.
- ASEAN's role is significant in facilitating peace efforts.
Kuala Lumpur, Aug 4 (NationPress) Officials from Thailand and Cambodia have landed in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, to participate in the upcoming General Border Committee meeting aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
The meeting is set for August 7 in Malaysia, chosen for its neutral stance, according to a statement from the Malaysian Armed Forces.
This gathering seeks to tackle the border dispute that has arisen, following the ceasefire agreement made in Malaysia on July 28, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
On August 1, Cambodia expressed approval for Thailand's suggestion to convene discussions regarding border matters in Malaysia.
"I would like to take this opportunity to confirm that Cambodia welcomes Thailand's proposal for a General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur," stated Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, Under Secretary of State and spokesperson for the Cambodian Defence Ministry, during a press briefing.
"We are optimistic that this meeting will be productive and lead to positive outcomes," she added.
On Thursday, a spokesperson from Thailand's Ministry of Defence announced on social media that Deputy Minister of Defence Nattaphon Narkphanit had officially accepted Cambodia's invitation for a special GBC meeting.
Nattaphon expressed enthusiasm for attending the meeting and stressed the importance of working together to alleviate tensions and address border security concerns in a peaceful and constructive manner.
Socheata mentioned that Malaysia, as the current chair of ASEAN, dispatched a senior delegation led by its Chief of Defence Forces, General Datuk Haji Mohd Nizam Bin Haji Jaffar, to Cambodia.
The Malaysian defence forces chief noted that two observation teams will be active, one headed by the Malaysian military attaché in Cambodia and the other by the military attaché in Thailand.