Singapore: Prime Minister Srisaket Sihasak led the Thai negotiating team to Singapore for the first meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Conciliation Commission under the UNCLOS Convention, before delivering the opening statement tomorrow.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkaew, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, headed the Thai negotiating team at a meeting with the Compulsory Conciliation Commission in the reconciliation process between Thailand and Cambodia under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The meeting, held from September 14-15, 2026, in Singapore, included Ambassador Songchai Chaipatiyuth, Deputy Head of the Thai delegation, along with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies with specialized knowledge and experience. These agencies included the Hydrographic Department, the Naval Operations Department of the Royal Thai Navy, and the Department of Natural Resources and Fuel, Ministry of Energy. This was the first meeting, and the opening statements from both sides will be broadcast live on September 15, 2026, providing the public with an opportunity to learn about each side's positions and approaches to the reconciliation process.
The meeting will also consider approving the Rules of Procedure, which will define the guidelines and framework for the operation of the Conciliation Commission. This includes guidelines for future meetings and processes. As a State Party to UNCLOS, Thailand is committed to cooperating with and supporting the work of the Conciliation Commission. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies are dedicated to fulfilling their duties to protect and preserve national interests. It is expected that the conciliation process will take approximately 12 months. After that, the Conciliation Commission will prepare a report, including conclusions and recommendations, which will not be binding on either party.
Meanwhile, at today's meeting (September 14), Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prak Sokhonn, along with his legal team, also attended. The meeting lasted approximately one hour. Afterwards, the Thai and Cambodian delegations, including the Reconciliation Commission, took a group photo and then individual photos before dispersing to prepare for tomorrow's (September 15) statement.