KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) met on Monday in Malaysia to try and restore a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia following two weeks of intense fighting. The conflict has killed at least 60 people and displaced more than half a million residents along the disputed border.
Read More: ASEAN to monitor Thai–Cambodia border after bloody clashes
The meeting in Kuala Lumpur marked the first face-to-face engagement between officials from both countries since clashes resumed on December 8. Malaysia, the current Asean chair, urged the bloc to play a stronger role in halting hostilities and restoring peace in the region.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said the meeting aimed not only to de-escalate tensions but also to build trust and create opportunities for dialogue. “Asean must do whatever is necessary to maintain regional peace and stability,” he said during opening remarks.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with H.E. Sugiono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, on the margins of the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the current situation between Cambodia and Thailand, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The meeting… pic.twitter.com/RmpRvQdf3V
— ASEAN (@ASEAN) December 22, 2025
The fighting has involved heavy exchanges of fire along the 817-kilometre border, from forested inland areas near Laos to coastal provinces. Thailand and Cambodia have accused each other of aggression, including air strikes, rocket attacks, and laying of new mines, which each side claims violates international agreements.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia expressed hope the talks would allow the two countries to negotiate openly and reach a lasting solution. He added that an Asean team would present findings from field observations and satellite monitoring provided by the United States to guide discussions.
Despite ongoing efforts by the US and China to mediate, hostilities continue intermittently. Both Thailand’s caretaker premier, Anutin Charnvirakul, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet have indicated a willingness to achieve an amicable resolution as soon as possible.
Read More: No mediators: Thailand wants bilateral talks with Cambodia
A successful dialogue could pave the way for stabilizing the region, addressing humanitarian concerns, and preventing further escalation of the conflict along the border.