China offers help to patch up Thai ties with Cambodia

BEIJING, Aug 14 (AFP): Beijing on Thursday offered to help Thailand and Cambodia patch up relations after their deadliest border clashes in decades, as the three nations' foreign ministers met for talks in China.

Last month, a long-running border row between the Southeast Asian neighbours boiled over into conflict involving artillery bombardments, air strikes and infantry clashes, killing at least 43 people and forcing over 300,000 to flee their homes.

The two sides struck a ceasefire after five days of violence-following intervention from US President Donald Trump-and agreed last week to extend the deal after talks between defence officials in Malaysia.

Beijing, Phnom Penh's main ally, has also been involved in mediation efforts and on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Thai and Cambodian counterparts on the sidelines of a Mekong regional conference in Yunnan.