During their meeting on 8/12, held on the occasion of co-chairing the inauguration of the Tan Nam - Meun Chey international border gate, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh discussed the Cambodia - Thailand border tensions with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister Chinh affirmed Vietnam's continuous attention to the situation. He stated that Vietnam would continue to contribute to peaceful solutions to resolve the tensions, calling on Thailand and Cambodia to exercise restraint, engage in dialogue, respect each other's legitimate interests, and comply with peace agreements.

Vietnam values and supports all efforts to resolve disagreements through peaceful means. The country believes that long-term stability is the best approach for both Cambodia and Thailand, contributing to ASEAN solidarity and fostering a peaceful, stable, cooperative, and developing environment for the region and the world.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet held talks on 8/12. Photo: TTXVN

The two prime ministers lauded the significance of the Tan Nam - Meun Chey international border gate's opening in enhancing connectivity, economy, trade, and people-to-people exchanges. They affirmed their commitment to further improving the border gate system and upgrading cross-border transport infrastructure, creating new impetus for regional economic development.

Beyond the positive aspects of the border gate's opening, both prime ministers agreed on the need for effective coordination in management to maintain security and order in the border area. This includes preventing cross-border crime, smuggling, and illegal activities. They also stressed the importance of promptly signing the "Agreement on Border Gate Management" and the "Agreement on Border Management Regulations" to facilitate border trade and gate management, meeting the development goals of both countries in the new phase.

Building on their achievements and with strong resolve, both sides committed to close coordination to strengthen their bilateral relationship. They emphasized increasing high-level contacts, exchanging delegations across all levels and channels, and leveraging existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

The two countries agreed to consolidate defense and security cooperation, consistently adhering to the principle of not allowing hostile forces to use one country's territory to undermine the other. This includes maintaining border security, preventing cross-border crime and online fraud, and coordinating efforts to counter distorted narratives, fake news, and misinformation spread by hostile forces seeking to incite, undermine, and divide Vietnam - Cambodia relations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Hun Manet agreed to focus on creating breakthroughs in economic cooperation, enhancing the integration and connectivity of their two economies. This encompasses cooperation in digital economy development, infrastructure connectivity, and policy institutional linkages, particularly in trade, investment, transport, culture, and tourism. They aim to accelerate transport and logistics infrastructure connectivity, develop border gates and border commercial infrastructure, and strive to achieve bilateral trade turnover of 20 billion USD soon.

To nurture and preserve the historical value of their relationship, the two prime ministers highlighted the importance for both countries and their people of widely promoting the tradition of Vietnam - Cambodia solidarity and friendship to all segments of society, especially the younger generation. They also plan to increase people-to-people exchanges through new forms.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed Vietnam's readiness to support Cambodia in enhancing human resource quality and increasing training scholarships for Cambodian students.

The two prime ministers underscored the importance of maintaining a peaceful, stable, cooperative, and sustainably developing border between the two countries. They affirmed their commitment to continue coordinating in adequately and promptly addressing emerging issues, including the sustainable environmental protection in the border area. They also agreed to promote negotiations to resolve the approximately 16% of the border that has not yet been demarcated and to coordinate land and sea border management with a spirit of mutual understanding, respect, and in accordance with international law.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also requested Cambodia to continue addressing the legal status of Vietnamese-origin people in Cambodia to ensure their stable lives and their positive contribution to Cambodia's prosperity and the friendly relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on 8/12. Photo: VGP

Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated into clashes on 7/12, when soldiers from both countries exchanged fire along the disputed border. The incident resulted in two Thai soldiers being injured and residents being evacuated.

The situation further escalated in the early hours of 8/12. Thailand accused Cambodia of using artillery and "air-dropped ammunition" to attack Thai soldiers at the Anupong base, which led to the death of one soldier. The Thai Air Force subsequently deployed F-16 fighter jets to strike military targets within Cambodian territory.

Cambodia's Ministry of Defense accused Thai military personnel of firing first at Cambodian positions in the An Ses area earlier that morning. Thai tanks then shelled three areas: Tamone Thom temple, near Preah Vihear temple, and Chomka Chek.

Cambodia's Ministry of Defense asserted that its military exercised "maximum restraint" and did not return fire, adhering to its commitment to resolve conflicts through peaceful means.

Pham Giang