JOINT PRESS STATEMENT
SPECIAL GENERAL BORDER COMMITTEE (GBC) MEETING
Koh Kong, Cambodia
10 September 2025

1. The 1^st Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand was hosted by Cambodia on 10 September 2025 in Koh Kong Province, Kingdom of Cambodia. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. General Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and H.E. General Nattaphon Narkphanit, Acting Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Thailand.
   
   
2. The aim of the 1^st Special GBC Meeting was to review the positive outcomes of the Extraordinary General Border Committee Meeting (GBC) between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand, held on 7 August 2025, and to formulate necessary action plans for the purpose of fostering full and effective implementation of the ceasefire arrangement.
   
   
3. The Meeting reaffirmed the practical conclusions of the four rounds of Extraordinary Regional Border Committee (RBC) Meetings between three Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Military Regions and two Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) Army Areas and the Chanthaburi-Trat Border Defense Command. The mentioned RBC Meetings were held in August 2025 in Cambodia and Thailand, respectively.
   
   
4. The Meeting, based on the platform forged at the Extraordinary GBC Meeting, provided an opportunity for both sides to advance productive dialogue, promote confidence building measures, and mutually explore ways forward to peacefully settle disputes and other concerning matters, with a shared objective of returning to normalcy in the near future.

5. A three-day Joint Secretariat Meeting was held in Koh Kong Province, Kingdom of Cambodia, from 7 to 9 September 2025. The Joint Secretariat Meeting was co-chaired by Major General Nhem Boraden, Deputy Chief of Cabinet Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, and Lieutenant General Nuttapong Praokaew, Director of the Department of Border Affairs. On this occasion, both secretariat teams worked closely together in a friendly, cordial, and productive atmosphere to take preparatory steps for the 1^st Special Cambodia-Thailand GBC Meeting.
   
   
6. Both sides agreed to implement measures to de-escalate tensions and restore confidence as follows:
   
   a. The Meeting acknowledged the need to de-escalate tensions through the removal of heavy and destructive weapons and equipment back to their respective normal military installations. To this end, the Secretariats of the GBC and RBCs will start to discuss detailed, practical and step-by-step action plan within three (3) weeks after this meeting. This action plan will be implemented under the observation and verification of AOT.
   
   b. Both sides agreed in principle on the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the establishment of the AOT. Both sides will proceed in accordance with their respective domestic law and regulations. After both sides received approval from their respective authorities, Malaysia, as the ASEAN Chair, will be informed of the agreed TOR in order to assist with the formation of the AOT.
   
   c. Pending the establishment of the AOT, both sides recognized the important role of the IOT and agreed to continue using the IOT mechanism to ensure the effective implementation of the ceasefire.
   
   d. The Meeting welcomed the agreement not to expand the scope or scale of disputes, nor to engage in provocative activities that could escalate tensions. Any necessary actions to ensure safety by either side will be conducted within their own positions as of the ceasefire at 24:00 hours (local time) on 28 July 2025 and in full compliance with the ceasefire terms reached at the Extraordinary GBC Meeting on 7 August 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This measure is intended to promote mutual trust and cooperation.
   
   e. The Meeting reaffirmed the importance of maintaining regular communication between all military regions, army areas, and border units on both sides, with a commitment to resolving issues peacefully and preventing clashes. Both Cambodia and Thailand emphasized the need to further strengthen communication at all levels to build mutual trust and promote good neighbourliness.
   
   f. The Meeting acknowledged the importance of refraining from disseminating false information, fake news, accusations, allegations, and harmful rhetorics 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. Any detected violation of the aforementioned will be reported accordingly to each side’s IOT/AOT.
   
   g. The meeting supported efforts to prevent actions that undermine trust, incite hatred, provoke misunderstandings, or escalate tensions along the border. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fostering mutual respect and promoting transparency to maintain stability and build long-term confidence.
   
   h. The meeting aimed at fostering discussion and increase confidence to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace along the border, using all necessary mechanisms to resolve differences peacefully in the spirit of good neighbourliness, friendship, and solidarity.
   
   i. As a gesture of friendship, mutual trust and confidence, and commitment to restoring relations and the return to normalcy, prisoners of war will be returned as soon as possible at an appropriate time on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with Article 118 of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 and Rule 128 (A) of the Customary International Humanitarian Law.
   
   j. Both sides agreed to consider the feasibility of reopening the border crossings between Chanthaburi and Trat Provinces in Thailand and Battambang Province in Cambodia, for the import and export of products or goods, except materiel intended for military purposes, to facilitate trade and economic activities necessary for the maintenance of critical regional supply chains. Further details are to be discussed among both sides at the RBC Meeting.
   
   
7. Both sides agreed to implement measures for practical cooperation as follows:
   
   a. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of advancing humanitarian demining with the purpose of contributing to socio-economic development and the protection of civilian lives. To this end, both sides agreed to establish, within one week after this meeting, a Joint Coordinating Task Force led by the GBC Secretariats of both sides, with the participation of CMAC and TMAC, to determine and agree on priority areas and to coordinate the planning and implementation of humanitarian demining. Both sides will discuss and establish the Standard Operating Procedures necessary to complete this task. Taking into account each side’s respective criteria, conditions, and positions, the Task Force will begin identifying pilot border areas for action within one month.
   
   b. All these humanitarian demining actions are without prejudice to the survey and demarcation of land boundary between both countries.
   
   c. The Meeting encouraged enhanced cooperation at all levels between the relevant authorities of both countries to prevent and suppress cross-border crimes including arms, drugs, human and wildlife trafficking, forced labour, smuggling, and illegal border crossings while reaffirming support for joint border agency efforts, promoting information sharing, and ensuring that such issues are addressed in accordance with humanitarian principles and national laws.
   
   d. The Meeting urged the relevant authorities to implement the cybercrime action plan, to be agreed upon by both sides, on online scams, encompassing strengthened border control, enhanced intelligence sharing, restrictions on illegal communication facilities, strategic communication efforts, and mechanisms to counter technological crimes.
   
   e. To this end, the Ministry of Interior and National Police from both countries will meet within one week after this meeting, to create a joint task force which will be tasked to develop an action plan on transnational crime.
   
   f. Regarding incidents in the area between Phum Chouk Chey Village, O Bei Chorn Commune, O Chrov District, Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia, and Nong Chan Village, Khok Sung District, Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand, both sides agreed as follows:
   
   - Both sides recognized the JBC as a mechanism to bring a solution to issues related to joint survey and demarcation and agreed to refer this matter to the next JBC Meeting as a priority agenda.
   
   - Both sides tasked the RBC to discuss the management of this matter at the earliest, in accordance with the outcome of the discussion under the JBC.
   
   In the meantime, the Governors of Sa Kaeo Province and Banteay Meanchey Province will coordinate closely to peacefully manage the situation on the ground, including ceasing of all activities which expand the scope of the disputes and further escalate tensions.
   
   g. The above-mentioned approach will be applied to the management of other areas with similar problems along the Cambodia-Thailand border.
   
   
8. The Meeting also task the next rounds of Regional Border Committee (RBC) Meetings as follow:
   
   a. Discussion on the restoration of relations, the return to normalcy, and the resumption of the people-to-people exchanges.
   
   b. Establishment of the Coordination Group (CG) in accordance with the composition, roles and responsibilities agreed by both sides.
   
   c. Discussion on the composition, roles and responsibilities of the Township Border Committee (TBC) and submit the agreed outcomes to the GBC for approval and subsequent establishment.
   
   
9. Both sides agreed to schedule the 2^nd Special General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting within 30 days after this meeting, with Thailand as the hosting state.

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