The United States described the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting that concluded in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (Aug 7) as an important step forward in solidifying the ceasefire arrangement and establishing the Asean observation mechanism.

Cambodia and Thailand's top defence officials began a meeting in Malaysia on Thursday to finalise a permanent end to hostilities following a violent five-day border conflict that ended in an unconditional ceasefire late in July.

Cambodia and Thailand finally reached an agreement on Thursday to maintain a ceasefire and let neutral observers monitor the fragile truce despite the unresolved issue of captured soldiers.