The Second China-Cambodia-Thailand Track II Dialogue, under the theme of "Implementing the Fuxian Consensus and Fostering a Peaceful Public Opinion Environment", was held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on April 20-21.

Organized by the China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), the meeting brought together nearly 100 participants, including senior journalists, think tank scholars, representatives of social organizations, and humanitarian agencies from China, Cambodia, and Thailand.

The dialogue aimed to consolidate the outcomes of the first meeting, focusing on three priority areas: media and public opinion guidance in the current regional context, cross-border economic and livelihood cooperation, and protection of the rights and interests of displaced populations in border areas.

The discussions were intended to provide Track II insights and support for implementing the five-point consensus of the Fuxian Meeting, facilitating continued improvement in Cambodia-Thailand relations, and safeguarding regional peace and stability.

The meeting was inaugurated with opening remarks by Ambassador Wang Shiting, secretary of the Party Committee of CFAU, presided over by CFAU President Gao Fei, and concluded with closing remarks by Sun Jisheng, vice-president of the university.

In his opening remarks, Wang noted that while the first dialogue in February this year focused on assessing the regional landscape and building communication channels, this meeting had a clearer focus: improving the media and public opinion environment, advancing humanitarian concerns, and addressing the basic rights and urgent needs of displaced people in border areas.

He stressed that humanitarian issues should not be marginalized, let alone politicized. The value of Track II dialogue, he noted, lies in preserving space for communication during complex and sensitive moments, sustaining mutual understanding and engagement, advancing humanitarian concerns, and providing useful support to official processes.

Wang Shiting, secretary of the Party Committee of China Foreign Affairs University, delivers the opening remarks at the Second China-Cambodia-Thailand Track II Dialogue in Beijing.

When presiding over the dialogue, Gao observed that this year's meeting was more focused than the first, shifting from broadly advancing regional peace to the two key areas of media environment and humanitarian aid.

He noted that the Track II dialogue was moving from talk to action, and from exploratory engagement to targeted problem-solving. By bringing together media professionals, think tank scholars, and humanitarian practitioners, the dialogue was helping build an ecosystem that supports sustainable peace — an approach that embodies the Asian wisdom of mutual respect, step-by-step progress, and a people-centered perspective.

Gao Fei, president of China Foreign Affairs University, presides over the dialogue.

The meeting featured a plenary session and three parallel breakout sessions, focusing respectively on guiding public expectations and fostering an atmosphere of de-escalation, resuming cross-border economic activities and people-to-people exchanges in border areas, and safeguarding the rights and basic livelihoods of displaced persons.  

Participants shared case studies and proposals on such specific topics as combating misinformation, resuming cross-border trade, protecting refugees and returnees, and enhancing cooperation on public health. 

Representatives from the three countries generally agreed that the Track II dialogue preserves valuable space for communication outside official channels, helping build mutual trust and consensus.

On April 21, bilateral closed-door sessions were held between China and Cambodia, as well as between China and Thailand, followed by a session reporting on the outcomes of the parallel breakout sessions.

After two days of in-depth discussion, the meeting adopted a joint outcome document, which reflected the core consensus reached by the Cambodian and Thail delegations and provided a valuable reference for ongoing dialogue on policy and practical cooperation.

In her closing address, CFAU Vice-President Sun Jisheng commended the candid exchanges and constructive outcomes achieved by all participants. She stated that CFAU would continue to strengthen the role of the Track II dialogue as a platform for enhancing sustained exchanges among think tanks, media, and social organizations.

Sun Jisheng, vice-president of China Foreign Affairs University, delivers the closing address at the event.

She added that the university would leverage the flexibility and inclusiveness of Track II diplomacy to complement official channels and build the mutual trust necessary for lasting peace. In a world fraught with conflict and instability, such dialogue not only benefits the parties directly concerned, but also sends a strong and positive signal to the broader international community, she noted.