Cambodia Agrees to Thailand’s Proposal to Relocate Border Talks to Malaysia, Requests Presence of International Observers

Cambodia Agrees to Thailand’s Proposal to Relocate Border Talks to Malaysia, Requests Presence of International Observers

Phnom Penh, August 1, 2025 — During a press conference held at the Office of the Council of Ministers on Friday morning, General Mali Sujata, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of Cambodia, announced that the Royal Government of Cambodia has agreed to Thailand’s request to relocate the upcoming General Border Committee (GBC) meeting from Phnom Penh to Malaysia.

The proposal, initiated by Thailand’s Acting Minister of Defense, H.E. Nattaphon Narkphanit, was accepted by Cambodia on the condition that representatives from Malaysia, the United States, and the People’s Republic of China participate as observers. These three countries are recognized as pivotal actors in the negotiation and conclusion of the recent ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand on July 28, 2025.

“In this regard,” Lieutenant General Maly Socheata stated, “I would also like to take this opportunity to confirm that Cambodia welcomes Thailand’s proposal to hold a meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) in Kuala Lumpur. In the same vein, we also extend Cambodia’s sincere gratitude to Malaysia for its kind facilitation and for providing the venue for this important meeting.”

She further emphasized Cambodia’s request for Malaysia, the United States, and China to join the upcoming meeting in the capacity of observers, underscoring their instrumental role in mediating the July ceasefire. “At the same time, Cambodia also proposed that the three countries, namely Malaysia, the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China to attend the GBC Extraordinary session as observers, as they “have been playing essential roles in facilitating the ceasefire agreement” between Cambodia and Thailand on July 28. We are very confident that this meeting will be constructive and yield fruitful outcomes,” she added.

It should be noted that on July 31, 2025, the Ministry of National Defense of Cambodia issued an official response to the letter from Thailand’s Acting Minister of Defense, affirming its consent to the proposed change in venue. In the same correspondence, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, H.E. General Tea Seiha, formally requested the participation of Malaysia, the United States, and China as observers to the forthcoming GBC meeting.