BEIJING - China on Tuesday said it supported Indonesia's efforts to solve the border row between Cambodia and Thailand within the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"China appreciates and supports Indonesia's active mediation efforts to tackle the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict under the ASEAN framework,"  Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular briefing.

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China is "ready to continue to work with the international community, and ASEAN, to play a constructive role in resolving the conflict," he added.

Stressing that Cambodia and Thailand are friendly neighbors of China, Ma called on the two nations to stay calm and exercise restraint to avoid an escalation of tensions.

In the latest clashes on February 4-7, a barrage of artillery shells were fired from both sides of the border, killing and wounding Cambodian and Thai soldiers and civilians, and caused tens of thousands of villagers on either side of the border and near the disputed areas to flee for safe shelters.

ASEAN foreign ministers are now in Jakarta to discuss the border spat that has dragged on for two years, which has resulted in armed clashes that have claimed nearly 20 lives since then and many others injured.

Member countries of ASEAN are: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.