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KUALA LUMPUR: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hailed Malaysia for doing "a good job” as this year's Asean Chair.
He reiterated that Asean is the preeminent forum through which the United States seeks to engage with the region.
"I think Malaysia has done a good job of chairing it this year.
"We used that chairmanship where we were able to work... to de-escalate and ultimately end the Cambodia-Thailand conflict.
"In fact, we’re hopeful that something will be signed here (in Kuala Lumpur),” he told reporters travelling on his plane en route to Qatar and on to Kuala Lumpur.
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His statement was shared on the US State Department’s website.
A joint declaration on a ceasefire is expected to be signed on Sunday (Oct 26) between Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on the sidelines of the 47th Asean Summit here.
The signing will be witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his capacity as Asean Chair, and US President Donald Trump.
Thailand and Cambodia have long been in dispute over their 817km 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.
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The ceasefire, widely seen as a major Asean achievement, prevented a broader military escalation and ensured the safety of thousands of civilians living on both sides of the border.
Malaysia is hosting the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits from Sunday to Tuesday (Oct 28) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The Philippines will be the Asean Chair next year. – Bernama
