ASEAN Summit: Peace Agreement Between Thailand and Cambodia Sponsored by the American President

SadaNews - The ASEAN Summit commenced this morning, Sunday, in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, with the participation of leaders of the member countries and several international guests, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In his opening speech, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that the world is experiencing a critical transitional phase, stating that "the old system has ended, and the new system has yet to materialize," stressing that dialogue and mutual understanding remain the best way to overcome divisions and escalating tensions.

The summit addresses significant regional files, notably the official accession of East Timor as the eleventh member of the association, and the signing of the "Peace Declaration" between Thailand and Cambodia to end the border dispute between them.

The leaders will also discuss ways to combat transnational crime, the situation in Myanmar, disputes in the South China Sea, as well as issues of sustainable development and climate change.

The summit witnessed a notable event with the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur at the start of an Asian tour including Japan and South Korea, during which he met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

ASEAN countries also agreed to handle negotiations regarding U.S. tariffs bilaterally with Washington, in line with the approach of the U.S. administration, without issuing a collective statement on this issue.

Trump described the signing of the peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia as a "significant moment for all the peoples of Asia," noting that the conflict between the two countries lasted more than 32 years before coming to an end, asserting that the agreement "will save millions of lives."

Trump also addressed the U.S. role in the ceasefire in Gaza, stating: "We are proud to have reached a ceasefire in Gaza," referring to the efforts made by Washington to end the latest round of fighting.

In this context, the U.S. president signed two trade agreements with both Cambodia and Thailand, the first enhancing trade relations with Phnom Penh, and the second involving strategic cooperation with Bangkok in the field of critical minerals.

Trump confirmed that these agreements represent a strong boost for the U.S. economy, adding: "A year and a half ago, we were a dead country, but today we are the best in the world," indicating Washington's strong return to the Asian economic scene through the ASEAN summit.