BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Sunday said China will maintain its fair and impartial position and continue close communication with Cambodia and Thailand, actively facilitate talks for peace and play a constructive role for a ceasefire.

According to media reports, following international efforts to facilitate talks, Cambodia and Thailand have expressed willingness to cease hostilities, though clashes are still continuing along the border between the two countries.

When asked for China's stance on the situation, the spokesperson said Cambodia and Thailand are and will always be each other's neighbors, and both countries are China's friends and neighbors.

Maintaining good-neighborliness and mutual trust and properly managing differences serve the two countries' fundamental and long-term interests, and the region's peace and stability, said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson noted that China is deeply saddened by the casualties inflicted on both sides and expresses heartfelt sympathies.

China hopes both sides will bear in mind the interests of the two peoples, cherish peace and good-neighborliness, exercise calm and restraint, come to a ceasefire as soon as possible, and settle differences peacefully through dialogue and consultation to restore peace and stability along the border soon, said the spokesperson.

Noting that both Cambodia and Thailand are important members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the spokesperson said ASEAN has been working intensively for days to bring about a ceasefire between the two sides. China commends the effort and welcomes all efforts conducive to deescalation, the spokesperson added.