Bangkok, Dec 24 (NationPress) Military representatives from Thailand and Cambodia gathered at the Thai side of the border in Chanthaburi province on Wednesday to lay the groundwork for formal discussions on a ceasefire and monitoring systems concerning their contested border.

The Secretariat-level session of the General Border Committee (GBC) commenced at the Ban Phak Kat permanent checkpoint. At approximately 4:25 pm local time, the Cambodian delegation arrived for an initial half-hour discussion.

After the meeting, GBC Secretary for Thailand, Nuttapong Praokaew, shared with reporters that the preliminary talks aimed to outline the agenda for a comprehensive meeting scheduled for 9 am on Thursday, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

Both nations have exchanged their respective positions, noted Natthaphong.

"During this meeting, both parties will deliberate and share documents in preparation for the upcoming 3rd Special GBC meeting, set to occur on December 27, 2025. This is crucial for ensuring a halt to hostilities and discovering solutions to restore peace between the two nations, in addition to aiding a swift return to normalcy," stated Lt General Maly Socheata, the Cambodian Ministry of Defence's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson.

Earlier on Wednesday, Thai Defence Ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri mentioned that the secretariat meeting will run from Wednesday through Friday.

Should these initial discussions progress smoothly, a meeting involving the defence ministers of both countries will occur on Saturday, he informed during a press briefing.

Earlier in the day, Cambodia accused the Thai military of deploying fighter jets to drop cluster bombs in Banteay Meanchey province. In response, the Thai army asserted that the cluster bombs were solely aimed at military targets.

Additionally, the Thai military was reported to have dropped four bombs in civilian areas in Battambang province, according to a press release from the Cambodian Ministry of Defence, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority expressed serious concerns regarding allegations of Thailand's use of cluster munitions and toxic gas near civilian zones.

Winthai Suvaree, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Army, stated on Wednesday that what Cambodia identified as cluster bombs were directed at military targets and were not designed to harm civilians.

Winthai emphasized that the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the use, production, or stockpiling of such weapons, is not applicable as neither Thailand nor Cambodia is a signatory to the convention.