Thailand and Cambodia have set a date later this month for the eighth meeting of the General Border Committee, Thai media outlets reported yesterday.

“Thailand agreed with Cambodia to hold the GBC after communicating with the Cambodian Ministry of Defence,” Thai Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa was quoted as saying by Thai INN, a Thai online news outlet, adding that the meeting would be held between December 20 and 25 in Phnom Penh.

The statement comes two days after Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh issued a third invitation to his Thai counterpart to join him for border talks. Thailand postponed previous meetings due to the elections and flooding.

Chhum Socheat, spokesman for Cambodia’s Defence Ministry, was unable to be reached for comment yesterday. However, on Monday, he said that the International Court of Justice’s order for the withdrawal of troops from the demilitarised zones near Preah Vihear temple would be on the meeting’s agenda, which at that time had not been confirmed.

On July 18, the ICJ ordered Cambodia and Thai troops stationed along the border to withdraw from area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple .