Tokyo: The Government of Japan welcomes the outcome of the General Border Committee meeting between Cambodia and Thailand in Malaysia on Oct. 23, which discussed the normalization of their bilateral relations and agreed on the establishment of the ASEAN Observer Team, as a contribution to further concretization of their ceasefire agreement.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the remarks were made by Japanese Press Secretary KITAMURA Toshihiro in a statement received this evening. The Press Secretary also expressed the Government of Japan’s respect for the diplomatic efforts of all parties involved, including the United States and Malaysia, the ASEAN Chair, which have supported the discussions between Cambodia and Thailand.

The improvement of the relationship between Cambodia and Thailand is essential for stability and development in the region, the statement underlined. ‘The Government of Japan hopes that both countries will continue to observe the ceasefire agreement and tensions between Cambodia and Thailand will be eased peacefully through dialogue,’ it added. ‘In this regard, Japan will continue to make efforts, in coordination with relevant countries, to promote the steady implementation of the ceasefire agreement and de-escalation of the situation.’