Malaysia says Trump to attend Asean summit, eyes Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire deal
Malaysia and US to facilitate truce as Thailand, Cambodia agree to remove mines and heavy arms
[KUALA LUMPUR] US President Donald Trump will visit Malaysia on Oct 26, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on Tuesday (Oct 14), adding that he was “looking forward” to witnessing a ceasefire deal between South-east Asian neighbours Thailand and Cambodia.
Tension over undemarcated points on the two nations’ 817-km land border erupted into a deadly five-day conflict in July, killing at least 48 and temporarily displacing hundreds of thousands in their worst fighting in more than a decade.
“During the summit, we hope to see the signing of a declaration, known as the Kuala Lumpur Accord, between these two neighbours to ensure peace and a lasting ceasefire,” Mohamad told the media.
He was referring to a meeting of leaders of the Association of South-east Asian Nations grouping set to run from Oct 26 to Oct 28 in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current chair of Asean, has said Trump will attend the meetings but there has been no official confirmation yet from Washington.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but a person familiar with the matter said the trip is being planned.
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Malaysia brokered an initial ceasefire on Jul 28 that ended the clashes after a sustained peace push by Anwar and telephone calls by Trump to leaders of both nations.
Malaysia and the US will facilitate a broader ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, which will require both sides to remove all mines and heavy artillery from their borders, Mohamad said.
On Sunday, the Thai foreign ministry said the foreign ministers of both countries met in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend to discuss the ceasefire, with US and Malaysian officials present.
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Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters on Tuesday that he would travel to Kuala Lumpur this week for further talks, underlining four demands made by Bangkok.
These include the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the border, landmine clearance in disputed territories, cooperation in combating transnational crime and encroachment in some areas, according to Thai officials.
“Right now, the negotiations are moving forward,” Sihasak said.
A Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters.
The East Asia Summit, to be held during this month’s Asean meeting, will issue a chairman’s statement, rather than a joint statement, as the US had objected to use of the word “inclusivity”, Mohamad added, without elaborating.
Leaders of all 10 members of the grouping and trading partners, such as China, Japan, Russia and the US, will attend the summit. REUTERS
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