AKP Phnom Penh, October 26, 2025 --

Cambodia and Thailand have agreed on the Terms of Reference (TOR) on the establishment of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT), which will comprise personnel from ASEAN Member States with the objective of ensuring the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire, according to the Joint Declaration by the Prime Ministers of both countries on the outcomes of their meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Oct. 26.

Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia and Thai Prime Minister H.E. Anutin Charnvirakul called on ASEAN Member States to provide the appropriate support to ensure the AOT can successfully meet its objectives.

Furthermore, the leaders committed to de-escalating tensions and restoring confidence and mutually beneficial relations between Cambodia and Thailand. To achieve and reinforce these objectives, they agreed to the following steps to ensure the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire, and restoration of peace, security, and stability in the border areas:

•  Implement military de-escalation under the observation and verification of the AOT, to include the removal of heavy and destructive weapons and equipment from the border and returning them back to their respective normal military installations. In this context, both sides will designate their respective teams to discuss — with a view to finalising — a practical and step-by-step action plan which will be under the observation of the Interim Observer Team, and subsequently the AOT once it is established pursuant to the TOR.

•  Refrain from disseminating or promoting false information, accusations, allegations, and harmful rhetoric, whether through official government channels or unofficial platforms, in order to de-escalate tensions, mitigate negative public sentiment, and foster an environment conducive to peaceful dialogue.

•  Agree to the full and immediate implementation of confidence-building measures to restore and maintain confidence, mutual trust, and peace along the border; to resolve differences peacefully, in the spirit of good neighbourliness, friendship, and solidarity; and to work towards the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

•  Coordinate and implement humanitarian de-mining in the border areas, as agreed by the General Border Committee — without prejudice to the survey and demarcation of land boundary between both countries — to protect civilian lives and contribute to socio-economic development.

•  Reaffirm our commitment to the settlement of border dispute and border demarcation through peaceful means and international law, refraining from the threat or use of force or any acts of provocation, and recognise the Regional Border Committee, General Border Committee, and Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) as the bilateral mechanisms to work through border-related issues through peaceful means, in accordance with their respective mandates, in coordination with local governors, to peacefully manage the situation on the ground, including the issues of alleged encroachment by either side in accordance with the outcome of the discussion under the JBC, and the cessation of all activities which expand the scope of the disputes and further escalate tensions.

Upon effective implementation of above-mentioned measures, both sides will recognise the cessation of active hostilities. Further, as a demonstration of Thailand’s desire to promote mutual confidence and trust, Thailand undertakes to promptly release the prisoners of war. 

The leaders also reaffirmed the unwavering commitment to peace and security between the two countries — as declared in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on July 28, 2025 — and reiterate their firm commitment to refrain from the threat or use of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for international boundary and of international law, for the promotion of peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region on the basis of mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of our respective nations.

By Heng Panha