China proves to be active and reliable mediator

After the foreign ministers of China, Cambodia and Thailand linked arms for a photo ahead of their trilateral meeting on Monday, the spotlight is now on how Beijing managed to broker peace between the two neighbors in Southeast Asia that recently engaged in a deadly border conflict.

In a hotel near Fuxian Lake in Yuxi, Yunnan province, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held meetings over two days with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow, with representatives of the militaries of the three countries taking part, in a bid to cement the ceasefire deal reached between Phnom Penh and Bangkok on Saturday.

At the end of the meetings, the three parties outlined five areas in which Cambodia and Thailand will further enhance communication and deepen mutual understanding, gradually consolidating the ceasefire situation, restoring interactions, rebuilding political trust, achieving a turnaround in relations, and maintaining regional peace.

As a reporter, I had the opportunity to closely observe the developments at the meetings over the past two days.

"Fuxian" literally means "to pacify the celestial beings". So when explaining why the Fuxian Lake area was chosen for the location of the meetings, Wang said the two "celestial beings of Cambodia and Thailand" could be pacified there, and it was hoped that the meetings would help heal the wounds caused by the conflict, end the estrangement between them, and help them reconcile as neighbors and friends.

Since the conflict started in July, China, as a friendly neighbor of both countries, has been closely following the tense situation and remains committed to facilitating peace talks in its own manner. Its efforts included sending Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deng Xijun to visit both Cambodia and Thailand on four occasions in shuttle diplomacy to de-escalate the tensions.

As Wang said to the Thai foreign minister, China's efforts to mediate conflicts and promote dialogue are never imposed on others, nor do they overstep their bounds, but aim to provide a relaxed platform for dialogue to allow the parties involved to engage in in-depth exchanges and resolve differences through consultations.

It was not the first time that China has successfully engaged in mediating in flare-ups.

In March 2023, Beijing brokered a dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which enabled the two countries to overcome past grievances and meet each other half way. With strong support from China, the trilateral Beijing agreement was reached, and Saudi Arabia and Iran announced the restoration of their diplomatic ties, setting off a wave of reconciliation across the Middle East.

The Saudi Arabia-Iran reconciliation was hailed as a major victory for dialogue and peace, and a useful practice of the Chinese way of settling hot spot issues.

In another case, at China's mediation, representatives of Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian factions signed a joint declaration in Beijing in July 2024, agreeing to end yearslong divisions and form a national unity government. The international community acknowledged the significance of the Beijing Declaration in ending bloodshed and promoting the peace process in the Middle East, and spoke highly of China's role as a global mediator.

From the detente between Iran and Saudi Arabia to the reconciliation of 14 factions in Palestine, and the trilateral meeting to cement the truce between Cambodia and Thailand, China has acted on the overarching principles of the Global Security Initiative, proposed by
Pre-sident Xi Jinping, in shaping global security frameworks, demonstrating its capability of being a glo-bal mediator and its determination to uphold global peace and stability.

China has used its actions to demonstrate its commitment to be an active and reliable mediator that does not believe in force or being omnipotent, nor does it seek selfish geopolitical gains or impose its will on others. That's why the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand expressed their high appreciation for China's positive role in mediating the conflict, which the Thai minister described as being "in an Asian way".

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn