"Prime Minister" Affirms Peace Progress Based on Constructive and Sustained Dialogue

Yesterday (7 May 2026), 6:00 PM (Philippine time, one hour ahead of Thailand) at the Shangri-La Mactan Hotel in Cebu City, Philippines, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, participated in a trilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss the Thai-Cambodian situation. The Philippines, as the ASEAN Chair, initiated this meeting.

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister held a press conference, addressing each speaker alphabetically: the Philippine President as ASEAN Chair, followed by the Cambodian Prime Minister and finally the Thai Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister thanked the Philippine President, as ASEAN Chair, for initiating this important meeting and revealed that he had a constructive and forward-looking discussion with the Cambodian Prime Minister. The discussions were frank and meaningful, a crucial opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to dialogue and maintaining peace.

The Prime Minister stated that Thailand and Cambodia are close neighbors with many dimensions of ties, emphasizing that conflict brings loss and suffering to all parties and further reflects the value of peace. Therefore, it is time for both countries to look forward and open a new chapter in their relationship, requiring sincerity, honesty, and a shared commitment to overcome challenges.

The Prime Minister further stated that on this occasion, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to assign their respective Foreign Ministers to work together to develop a list of practical confidence-building measures, starting with issues of common interest and immediately implementable. These measures will be a key mechanism for restoring trust and gradually strengthening bilateral relations.

The Prime Minister reiterated that Thailand and Cambodia need to move forward together gradually and in the same direction, noting that during the process, both sides should communicate more directly at all levels to help bridge misunderstandings and jointly seek ways to expand cooperation in mutually beneficial areas. Regarding land and maritime border issues, the Prime Minister proposed a framework for discussions to move forward in addressing these issues based on the principle of good neighborliness.

The Prime Minister concluded by stating that today's discussions were a significant step in creating an atmosphere conducive to peace and cooperation in the region. He affirmed Thailand's readiness to work constructively with all parties, based on mutual understanding, respect, and the shared interests of the people of both countries and the region as a whole.