Trump witnesses Thai-Cambodian ceasefire signing – DW – 10/26/2025

Talks between top US and Chinese officials aimed at easing trade tensions have set the stage for a meeting between President
Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, the US Treasury said.

China’s top trade negotiator Li Chenggang and Vice Premier He Lifeng met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of ASEAN summit.

“I would describe it as constructive, far-reaching, in-depth, and giving us the ability to move forward and set the stage for the leaders meeting in a very positive framework,” Bessent said after two days of negotiations.

Bessent emphasized that any trade deals would be up to Trump and Xi, who are set to meet on Thursday. 

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet signed an expansion of a ceasefire in the presence of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Trump helped broker the ceasefire to end their border conflict.

It builds on a truce reached three months ago after Trump called the then-leaders of the two countries.

He urged them to stop fighting or risk pausing their trade talks with the United States.

There were few details in the agreement on how it would be carried out, though it said the leaders agreed to establish an observer team made up of ASEAN member states “with the objective of ensuring the full and effective implementation.”

Reporters are waiting in the room for the official peace pact between Cambodia and Thailand to be signed, that you can watch here.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the US and China were moving toward “finalizing details” as trade talks continued for a second consecutive day.

“I think we’re moving forward to the final details of the type of agreement that the leaders can review and decide if they want to include together,” Greer told reporters.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet on Thursday in South Korea next week.

Meanwhile, China’s top trade negotiator Li Chenggang and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng were in Malaysia meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

This is the second round of talks between parties, with a US Treasury spokesperson having told reporters Saturday the first day of talks was “very constructive.”

A positive outcome would remove roadblocks for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.

US President Donald Trump appeared to enjoy the welcome ceremony, with dancers and drummers, as he walked down the tarmac.

Trump was greeted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim upon arrival, with the occasion marked by fanfare.

US President Donald Trump has just arrived in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. Trump is expected to join a signing ceremony for the peace pact between Thailand and Cambodia.

The US president is scheduled to meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim before attending a working dinner of ASEAN leaders.

East Timor officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, on Sunday, becoming the regional bloc’s 11th member.

The country will become the first new member to be inducted into ASEAN since the 1990s.

At a ceremony on Sunday, the flag of East Timor was added to the other 10 on stage at a formal ceremony in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao then told the other leaders that “today, history is made.” “For the people of Timor Leste this is not only a dream realized but a powerful affirmation,” he said.

The little known Southeast Asian state is the poorest and the youngest country in the region, with integration of the country being hailed as a symbolic historic step for the bloc.

What to know about East Timor

It is unusual for a US president to embark on an international trip during a government shutdown at home. But the talks with Asian allies build up to a meeting with China, the US’ biggest economic rival. Why that matters:

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is one of the leaders attending this year’s ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur. 

DW takes a look at what Subianto has managed to do so far in his first year in office. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced earlier this week that he will be joining the ASEAN summit to deliver an address virtually.

The Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim first broke the news, writing on social media that the Indian leader said Diwali celebrations were to continue in the country and he was not going to be able to attend the summit in person.

The news raised eyebrows since Modi has nearly always attended the summit in person since becoming prime minister in 2014.

And it comes as US President Donald Trump, who is attending this year’s summit, escalates a trade war with India. Trump imposed additional tariffs in August on India, citing its continued purchases of cheap Russian oil.

India, China to reset ties, but grievances remain

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US President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social that he will be meeting with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul when he lands in Malaysia, writing: 

“I am on my way to Malaysia, where I will sign the great Peace Deal, which I proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand. Sadly, the Queen Mother of Thailand has just passed away. I send my condolences to the Great People of Thailand. I will be seeing their wonderful Prime Minister when we land. In order to accommodate everyone for this major event, we will be signing the Peace Deal immediately upon arrival. See you soon! President DJT”

Thailand was mourning thedeath of Queen Sirikit, who died late Friday, casting doubt over whether the Thai leader could go on to attend the regional summit.

Trump has pushed for Cambodia and Thailand to sign a peace agreement after having personally taken credit for resolving a deadly border conflict between the neighbors.

The White House earlier said that Trump would join a signing ceremony for a peace agreement between the countries, with Trump having clarified that he was keen to do so “immediately upon arrival.” 

ASEAN foreign and economic ministers came together Saturday to lay the groundwork for the 47th summit that opens Sunday.

“As the international landscape becomes increasingly dominated by contestation rather than consensus, division rather than dialogue, ASEAN finds itself at a crossroads,” Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told his counterparts.

“Our space for neutrality and centrality is narrowing, particularly in areas such as trade, technology and regional security arrangement,” he said. “We must continue to act as the speakers and not the spoken for.”

ASEAN heads of state and government are set to gather to focus on regional security, economic resilience and maritime disputes.

The discussions take place as US tariffs and shifting global trade patterns loom large over discussions.

The meeting will then be followed by two days of high-level engagements with key partners, including China, Japan, India, Australia, Russia and South Korea. 

During his first term, Trump attended the annual  ASEAN summit just oncein 2017, in the Philippines.

US President Donald Trump is going to soon arrive in Malaysia for the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN.

The body is a regional group that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its members.

The grouping that has had 10 members so far is set to welcome its 11th member, Timor-Leste, tomorrow.

The expansion is a big deal since some ASEAN members had their reservations when it came to accepting the small nation into the bloc.

ASEAN has played a central role in Asian economic integration, joining negotiations to form the world’s largest free trade agreement and signing six free trade deals with other governments in the region.  

But even though the group plays an important role in bringing together disparate neighbors to address regional and economic security, the group’s political impact has been limited.

Malaysia is this year’s ASEAN chair and has set “inclusivity and sustainability” as the theme of the summit.

Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said Saturday that she had spoken to US President Donald Trump on the phone.

The call was the first time the two leaders have spoken since Takaichi took office this week.

During the call, which she described as “good and candid,” Takaichi said she had told Trump that strengthening the alliance between Japan and the US was her “top priority.”

“We agreed that we will work toward elevating the Japan-US alliance to new heights,” she told a press conference.
 
“I told him that strengthening the Japan-US alliance is my administration’s top priority on the diplomatic and security front.”

In her first policy speech on Friday, Takaichi had said that she would bolster Japan’s military spending amid rising tensions with China, North Korea and Russia.

Trump, who has embarked on a five-day tour of Asia and is due to visit Japan on Monday, has repeatedly called on the US’ allies to increase their defense spending.