BANGKOK (Reuters) -Preliminary talks between Thailand and Cambodia defense officials started on Monday in Malaysia ahead of a key ministerial level meeting on Thursday, as a fragile truce continues to hold a week after the two sides agreed on a ceasefire.

Thai and Cambodian officials met in Malaysia on Monday, as ceasefire between the two Southeast Asian neighbors holds, according to a statement.

Reuters interviewed four people on both sides of the border to piece together the most detailed account of how the truce was achieved, including previously unreported Thai conditions for joining the talks and the extent of Chinese involvement in the process.