Bangkok - Peru plans to table the need for corporate social responsibility as a crucial element of globalization at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be hosted by Lima next November, Peru's deputy foreign minister said Thursday.

"If you are living in the Andes where you don't have electricity, education and health services and you have next door a very important international company that is making billions of dollars exploiting gold, silver and copper, that creates a social problem," noted Gonzalo Gutierrez Reinel during a visit to Bangkok.

Reinel, who is scheduled to meet Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag Friday, was in the Thai capital to discuss progress in establishing a full-fledged free trade agreement

Bangkok - Thailand expressed satisfaction Tuesday with the outcome of marathon talks with its neighbour Cambodia over joint claims to an ancient Hindu temple on their border that had threatened to turn into a military conflict.

On Monday Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong spent 12 hours at a hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia, trying to defuse an escalating border spat over joint claims to portions of the Preah Vihear temple perched on their common border.

Siem Reap, Cambodia - Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers were preparing for lunchtime talks Monday aimed at defusing mounting border tensions over land surrounding an ancient Hindu temple.

The talks were scheduled to be held in a Siem Reap hotel, more than 300 kilometres north-west of Phnom Penh, between Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and his newly appointed Thai counterpart, Tej Bunnang.

Bangkok - A retired career diplomat was appointed Thai foreign minister Saturday in time to lead fresh talks with Cambodia over a bitter border dispute.

Tej Bunnag is widely considered a "professional choice" following the resignation of his successor Noppadon Pattama earlier this month, according to local reports.

Noppadon, the former lawyer for controversial former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, became tripped up by appearing to give ground to Cambodia in exchange, it is rumoured, favours for his old boss.

Bangkok - Thailand and Cambodia are to hold talks next week in Cambodia to try to defuse an escalating row over joint claims to land adjoining an ancient Hindu temple on their border, government officials confirmed Friday.

Joint talks between the two countries' foreign ministers are scheduled Monday in Siem Reap, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat confirmed.

It remained to be seen who would head the team for Thailand, which is currently without a foreign minister.

Phnom Penh - The Thai embassy in Cambodia called Thai nationals for a meeting Thursday to advise on options in case they require evacuation after upcoming national elections, a Thai business representative and Cambodian officials said.

A representative from the Thai Business Association of Cambodia who declined to be named said the Thai embassy had called a meeting Thursday in Phnom Penh to discuss emergency options for Thai citizens in case of problems after national elections scheduled for Sunday.

However, she said most Thai businesses were so far not affected by cross-border tensions and continued business as usual. Cambodian government officials said they were aware of the meeting and stressed it was routine consular protocol.