Kunming - China will continue to make efforts to rebuild peace between Thailand and Cambodia and is willing to offer humanitarian assistance to people in need in both countries, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.
Xinhua news agency reported that Wang also said China is willing to provide assistance to the ASEAN observation mission in monitoring the ceasefire agreed upon by the two countries on Saturday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was speaking in Yuxi City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, during his meeting with Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.
Following the signing of a joint statement agreeing to a ceasefire, the Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers are leading delegations to meet in Yunnan on December 28–29 at the invitation of Wang.
According to Xinhua, Wang said that as a friendly neighbor of both countries, China least wants to see Thailand and Cambodia go to war and most hopes to see the two countries restore their friendship.
He said it is believed that as long as Thailand and Cambodia communicate on an equal footing and move forward together, there will be no insurmountable obstacles.
Xinhua said Sihasak “spoke highly of China’s active efforts in mediating the Thailand–Cambodia conflict in an Asian way,” noting that the ceasefire agreement newly signed by Thailand and Cambodia marks a fresh start.
Resorting to force is never Thailand’s choice when it comes to disputes with neighboring countries, Sihasak said, adding that Thailand is committed to achieving a sustainable ceasefire and pursuing genuine peace.
“We are willing to look forward and move ahead, strengthen communication with Cambodia through bilateral channels, and, in a sincere manner, gradually resume exchanges, rebuild mutual trust, repair bilateral relations, and safeguard the peace and tranquility of the borders between the two countries and the region,” the Thai foreign minister said.
With regard to bilateral relations, Wang requested that Sihasak convey Chinese President Xi Jinping’s sincere greetings and New Year’s wishes to His Majesty the King, stating that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. His Majesty the King paid his first historic state visit to China in November this year.
Sihasak requested Wang to convey His Majesty the King’s sincere greetings to President Xi. He said that Thailand and China have shared a time-honored history of exchanges.
