(Phnom Penh): Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin said the immediate priority is to halt the fighting between Cambodia and Thailand and ensure the protection of civilians.

In a message posted on his social media on Monday (Dec. 15), Ambassador Wang called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint in the interest of safeguarding peace and stability in the border areas and the fundamental interests of their peoples.

“The top priority now is to stop the fighting and protect civilians,” Ambassador Wang said. “We hope the two sides will, in light of safeguarding peace and stability of the border areas and the interests of the peoples, exercise maximum restraint, take all measures conducive to realizing a ceasefire, and de-escalate as soon as possible.”

“China is and will continue to do everything we can to promote talks for peace and play a constructive role in our own way to bring about a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand and restore peace,” he added.

Earlier the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun also said that China calls for utmost restraint and every possible measure conducive to a ceasefire to ensure de-escalation of tensions as soon as possible amid the ongoing Cambodia-Thailand border clashes.
=FRESH NEWS