By Niam Seet Wei
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Observers from ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, will be deployed under the peace deal signed by Cambodia and Thailand today, said United States President Donald Trump.
“(That is to) make sure that the peace prevails and endures, and I have no doubt that it will,” he said before witnessing the signing of the Cambodia-Thailand peace deal here today.
Also witnessing the signing was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The agreement, dubbed as “KL Peace Accord”, was signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur which began today.
Apart from that, Trump said under the peace deal, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to cease all hostilities and work to build good, neighbourly relationships with each other.
He said 18 Cambodian prisoners of war will also be released.
"I am proud to help settle this conflict and forge a future for the region where proud, independent nations can prosper and thrive, safety, security and peace," he added.
The peace deal marks a milestone in ASEAN’s regional diplomacy, reflecting the bloc’s commitment to conflict prevention, stability and cooperation under Malaysia’s 2025 Chairmanship with the theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability”.
Thailand and Cambodia have long been in dispute over their 817-kilometre border, with recent tensions flaring into a military confrontation on July 24.
On July 28, Anwar hosted a high-stakes meeting in Putrajaya between Manet and then Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, successfully defusing tensions along the two countries’ shared border.
The ceasefire, widely seen as a major ASEAN achievement, prevented a broader military escalation and ensured the safety of thousands of civilians.
Malaysia, as this year’s ASEAN Chair, is hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit from Oct 26 to 28 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Noting that parts of the Middle East, such as Gaza in Palestine, are still suffering from the effects of war, while Pakistan and Afghanistan are in a state of open conflict, Trump said he is willing to devote time to help “halt” the crises.
“That one (Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict) started up a few days ago, and I just feel it is something I can do (whether) I can do it nicely or I don't need to do it. But (I was thinking) if I can take time and save millions of lives, that is really a great thing.
“I can't think of anything better to do,” he said.
Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit, marking the first visit by a US President to the country in a decade and his maiden visit to Malaysia.
He is the third US president in history to visit Malaysia, after Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966 and Barack Obama in 2014 and 2015.
--BERNAMA
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