SHANGHAI - Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their border dispute after meeting both countries' leaders on the same day.
The dispute escalated into the deadliest fighting between the neighbours in more than a decade last year, resulting in more than 100 military and civilian deaths and hundreds of injuries.
A ceasefire reached in December 2025 has largely held, but both sides have continued to accuse the other of breaches.
In his meeting with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on the sidelines of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Friday, Mr Xi told him that resolving the conflict was in both countries' "common and long-term interests".
He called for dialogue between the two sides and promised that China would play a "constructive role", according to state news agency Xinhua.
He delivered a similar message in a separate meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, adding that China supported a negotiated solution.
The dispute over their competing territorial claims centred on an ancient temple complex has been rumbling on for decades and has periodically erupted into violence.
In response to Mr Xi's call, Mr Anutin said Thailand remained committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, adding that he appreciated China's "fair and impartial" role, according to Xinhua.
Mr Hun Manet, meanwhile, thanked China for encouraging talks and helping to push for a peaceful settlement. He added that Cambodia would remain committed to dialogue and de-escalation.
Beyond the border issue, Mr Xi called for deeper strategic coordination with both countries, including through a "2+2" dialogue mechanism with Thailand involving their respective foreign and defence ministers and a "3+3" mechanism with Cambodia involving foreign affairs, defence and public security officials.
He also called for greater cooperation with both countries in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and for joint efforts to combat telecoms fraud, online gambling and other cross-border crimes.
China is the largest trading partner of both Thailand and Cambodia, and is also Cambodia's biggest source of foreign investment.
In his meeting with the Thai leader, Mr Xi called for faster progress on a Chinese-funded high-speed rail project and for improved rail links between the two countries via Laos.
He also said China supported a greater role for Thailand in international and regional affairs and pledged closer coordination through multilateral frameworks such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Meanwhile he urged Phnom Penh to help speed up work on the Industrial Development Corridor, a joint infrastructure project, and the "Fish and Rice Corridor", a scheme to develop Cambodian agriculture.
