Thai PM expects talks with Cambodian counterpart in ASEM summit

Source: Xinhua | 10-21-2008 15:59

BANGKOK, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said Tuesday he was seeking the right time for Thai and Cambodian leaders to meet during the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting which will be held in Beijing Oct. 24-25.

It would depend on adjusting time during the hectic schedule of the summit, Sompong said, adding that the best possible chance would be during the evening of Oct. 24.

Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Monday he expected to have an opportunity for bilateral talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen to discuss the two countries' ongoing border dispute on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting that opens in Beijing on Friday.

If there is an opportunity for bilateral talks, then it would be held, but it also depends on the coordination between both countries' foreign ministries, Somchai said.

The expected meeting would be the first face-to-face talks between the two leaders since a deadly gun battle erupted on Oct. 15 between Thai and Cambodian soldiers at a disputed border area near the ancient Khmer Preah Vihear temple.

One Thai soldier and two Cambodian soldiers were killed during the clash.

Somchai believed the border tension should ease, if bilateral talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen take place.

Somchai is expected to leave for Beijing on Oct. 23.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei