China offers help in Thai-Cambodia row as ministers meet
A long-running border row between the Southeast Asian neighbors boiled over into conflict last month involving artillery bombardments, air strikes and infantry clashes, killing at least 43 people and forcing more than 300,000 others to flee their homes.
The two sides struck a ceasefire after five days of violence -- following intervention from US President Donald Trump -- and agreed last week to extend the deal after talks between defence officials in Malaysia.
Beijing, Phnom Penh's main ally, has also been involved in mediation efforts. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Thai and Cambodian counterparts on the sidelines of a Mekong regional conference in Yunnan on Thursday.
"China supports Cambodia and Thailand in engaging in dialogue, eliminating misunderstandings, and rebuilding mutual trust," Wang told his counterparts, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.
"As an old Chinese saying goes, 'brothers may quarrel within the family but unite against outside threats'... I believe the two sides can properly manage specific disputes and work hand in hand to tackle various global challenges," Wang said.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa thanked China for its mediating role and called for greater cooperation with Cambodia on removing landmines from the border area, his ministry said in a statement on social media platform X.
Clashes have stopped since the ceasefire but several Thai soldiers have been wounded by landmine blasts, keeping tensions high.
Thailand says the mines were laid recently. Cambodia, still littered with ordnance from decades of conflict, vigorously denies laying new mines. — Agence France-Presse
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