Cambodia, Thailand start annual regional border meeting

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Officials of the regional border committees of Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday held their annual meeting to solve bilateral differences and seek for development over border issues.

Thursday's agenda includes talks on trade, security, economy and social order along the border, said Siem Reap governor Sou Pheasin.

"Tomorrow we will talk about overall issues," he added.

Meanwhile, Neang Phat, secretary of state at the Cambodian National Defense Ministry, told reporters that it is the 11th annual meeting for both committees and will last two days.

Just on Oct. 15, a gunfire exchange occurred at the border between Cambodia and Thailand, killing two Cambodians soldiers and wounding over a dozen Thais.

In early October, at least one Cambodian soldier and two Thai troopers were wounded during sporadic fighting and two other Thai soldiers seriously injured after stepping on a landmine at the border area.

In July, the ancient Preah Vihear Temple of Cambodia was awarded world heritage status by UNESCO, which angered the nationalists in Thailand who still claimed ownership of the site.

In effect, a military stalemate had haunted the region, and up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off there for several weeks.

Editor: Jiang Yuxia