UNITED NATIONS, July 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand as a positive step towards ending current hostilities and easing tensions, a UN spokesperson said Monday.

Guterres "urges both countries to respect the agreement fully and to create an environment conducive to addressing long-standing issues and achieving lasting peace," Farhan Haq, the UN chief's deputy spokesperson, said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General commends Malaysia, the current ASEAN Chair, as well as the United States and China, for their dedicated efforts towards the peaceful resolution of the situation," the statement said.

The United Nations stands ready to support efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region, it added.

The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to implement a ceasefire from midnight on Monday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said following a meeting hosted by him in Putrajaya, Malaysia. ■