At 6pm local time in the Philippines, a significant trilateral meeting took place at the Shangri-La Mactan hotel in Cebu, attended by Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The leaders gathered to address the ongoing situation between Thailand and Cambodia, with the meeting being spearheaded by the Philippines in its role as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Rachada Dhanadirek, the spokesperson for the Thai Prime Minister’s Office, noted that the Philippines initiated these talks under its current ASEAN leadership. The discussions opened an important dialogue platform for the leaders, who later addressed the media in a press conference. Philippine President Marcos Jr. spoke first in his capacity as ASEAN chair, followed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
During the conference, Anutin expressed gratitude to President Marcos for facilitating this crucial meeting. He described his conversation with Prime Minister Hun Manet as constructive and forward-thinking, emphasizing the importance of the discussions being candid and significant. Anutin highlighted that the meeting allowed both Thailand and Cambodia to reaffirm their commitment to dialogue and the preservation of peace.
Prime Minister Anutin underscored the close connections between Thailand and Cambodia, noting their intertwined relationships across various dimensions. He pointed out that conflict results in losses and difficulties for all parties involved, thereby reinforcing the necessity of maintaining peace. It is essential, he stated, for the two nations to jointly embark on a new chapter of their relationship, which would require sincerity, goodwill, and a collective resolve to overcome existing challenges.