AKP Phnom Penh, August 17, 2025 —

The spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defence, H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, said the outcomes of the Cambodia–Thailand Extraordinary Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting held yesterday are very positive, sending a strong message of peace between the two nations.

“The outcomes we achieved yesterday are a good sign that the ceasefire agreement is truly strong. Everything has progressed positively, with strong hope that normalcy will return very soon,” H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata underlined at a press briefing in Phnom Penh this morning.

She also highlighted the messages from Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and H.E. Gen. Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, addressed to the meeting.

Quoting the Prime Minister’s message, she said: “We welcome the positive outcomes of the Cambodia–Thailand Extraordinary RBC meeting between Cambodia’s Military Region 3 and Thailand’s Chanthaburi-Trat Border Defence Command on Saturday, August 16, 2025.”

For his part, H.E. Gen. Tea Banh expressed hope that the Thai side will continue to uphold the spirit of this extraordinary meeting—guided by transparency, sincerity, and respect for the ceasefire—for the sake of peace, stability, and the well-being of the armed forces and people of both nations.

“We must work together to rebuild mutual trust and restore normalcy along our shared border,” he stressed.

The spokesperson also confirmed that calm and stability were maintained at the frontline in Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Banteay Meanchey provinces from midnight until 6:00 a.m. today.

At the same time, she renewed Cambodia’s call for the immediate return of the 18 Cambodian soldiers unlawfully detained by Thai forces since July 29, 2025, just hours after the ceasefire entered into force.

By Heng Panha