BANGKOK, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Military delegates from Thailand and Cambodia convened a meeting at the Thai side of the border in Chanthaburi province on Wednesday to prepare for formal talks regarding a ceasefire and monitoring mechanisms along their disputed border.

The secretariat-level meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) began at the Ban Phak Kat permanent checkpoint. At around 4:25 p.m. local time, the Cambodian delegation arrived for a half-hour preliminary discussion.

Speaking to reporters after the session, GBC Secretary for the Thai side Nuttapong Praokaew stated that the initial talks focused on setting the agenda for a full-delegation meeting scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Thursday.

Both sides have already exchanged their respective standpoints, Natthaphong noted.

"In this meeting, both parties will discuss and exchange documents to prepare for the upcoming 3rd Special GBC meeting, which is scheduled to be held on December 27, 2025, in order to ensure the cessation of hostilities and find solutions to restore stability between the two countries, as well as to facilitate a swift return to normalcy," said Cambodian Ministry of Defense's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata.

Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri said earlier on Wednesday that the secretariat meeting will take place from Wednesday to Friday.

If these preliminary discussions proceed smoothly, they will be followed by a meeting between the defense ministers of both nations on Saturday, he told a press briefing. ■