KUALA LUMPUR: Asean countries, including Malaysia, have agreed to deploy observers under the peace deal signed by Cambodia and Thailand to ensure lasting peace, US President Donald Trump said.
"(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 on Sunday (Oct 26).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also attended the signing.
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.
Under the peace deal, Trump added, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to cease all hostilities and work to build good, neighbourly relationships with one another.
"Eighteen Cambodian prisoners of war will (also) be released," he said.
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.
