China Hopes for Improved Thailand-Cambodia Relations After Border Clashes

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed hope for improved relations between Thailand and Cambodia following two rounds of armed conflict along their shared border last year, the Thai government said on April 24, 2026.

The statement came after Wang Yi held talks with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in Anning, China, on the sidelines of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

According to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi conveyed China’s desire to witness bilateral ties between Thailand and Cambodia return to a stable and constructive path after periods of heightened tension.

The discussions built upon previous diplomatic engagements, including an informal consultation among the three foreign ministers in August 2025, where China reiterated its support for resolving the border dispute through dialogue and bilateral mechanisms.

During the August 2025 meeting, the ministers welcomed the ceasefire agreed upon on July 28, 2025, which ended five days of fighting that resulted in at least 43 deaths and displaced over 300,000 people on both sides of the border. They also emphasized the importance of implementing confidence-building measures, including freezing border troop movements and avoiding provocative actions.

China has consistently positioned itself as a facilitator of dialogue between Thailand and Cambodia, offering its platform for trilateral discussions and pledging support for landmine clearance in border areas to reduce long-term risks and rebuild trust.

The Thai government’s acknowledgment of Wang Yi’s remarks underscores the ongoing diplomatic effort to manage one of Southeast Asia’s most sensitive territorial disputes through multilateral engagement.