Fighting reignited in the contested frontier region earlier this month, displacing more than 500,000 people and killing dozens on either side, with Phnom Penh and Bangkok accusing each other of instigating violence and targeting civilians.
At least 22 people in Thailand and 19 in Cambodia had been killed as of Sunday, according to officials, as tanks, drones and heavy artillery were deployed to bombard targets on either side of the border.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations said the December 24 meeting would be conducted by the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee – jointly chaired by the defence ministers of both Asean member states – to “discuss the implementation and verification of the ceasefire”.
“The Asean foreign ministers expressed hope for de-escalation of hostilities as soon as possible,” read a statement released by Malaysia as this year’s Asean chair.
This month’s spate of violence has been among the deadliest since a short-lived truce brokered in July by Malaysia, the United States and China.
