By Kristie Lu Stout, Lauren Kent, Len Leng, Kocha Olarn

(CNN) — A ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand appears to be holding, hours after it came into effect at midnight local time (1 p.m. ET Monday), following days of clashes across the two countries’ disputed border.

The two sides agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” in a move announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), who mediated talks between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai at his official residence near the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Fighting stopped in Thailand’s Trat province near the disputed border, the Royal Thai Navy reported two hours into the ceasefire.

On the Cambodian side, the head of an evacuation shelter told CNN they stopped hearing explosions.

“I feel a big (relief). No more heavy chest. It’s been quiet and peaceful now,” Dr. Moun Nara said 30 minutes after the ceasefire went into effect.

Both sides had accused the other of starting the latest border flare-up and traded blame for the fighting, which killed at least 38 people and injured more than 200, according to figures from Thai and Cambodian officials. The dispute over their border goes back decades.

The United States and China also participated in the ceasefire negotiations. 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio applauded the ceasefire on Monday and said the Trump administration expects the two governments “to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict.”

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the Southeast Asian nations had agreed to ceasefire talks, but localized fighting continued throughout the weekend. Trump said he had warned the Thai and Cambodian leaders that he would not make trade deals with either country if the deadly border conflict continued.

“This is an important step towards reducing tensions and restoring peace and security,” Hun Manet said in a statement confirming the ceasefire, in which he thanked the Malaysian prime minister, the Chinese government and Trump specifically for their support in the negotiation process.

He also announced that the two countries will establish a Cambodian-Thai General Boundary Committee, which will hold an initial meeting on August 4, hosted by Cambodia.

“Today’s outcome reflects Thailand’s desire for a peaceful resolution, while continuing to protect our sovereignty and the lives of our people,” Phumtham said in the news conference. “We agreed to a ceasefire that will be carried out in good faith by both sides.”

Malaysia is prepared to deploy a team to “ensure implementation and observation” of the ceasefire, Ibrahim said, adding that both Thailand and Cambodia will resume direct communication at the level of prime ministers, foreign ministers and defense ministers.

Tensions rising since May

In recent decades, Thailand and Cambodia have had a complicated relationship of both cooperation and rivalry. The two countries share a 500-mile (800-kilometer) land border – largely mapped by the French when they controlled Cambodia as a colony – that has periodically seen military clashes.

Recent tension had been simmering since an encounter in May, in which a Cambodian soldier was killed.

Relations soured further following the release of a leaked phone call between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodia’s Hun Sen, the father of the current prime minister. In the call, Paetongtarn could be heard calling Hun Sen “uncle” and appeared to criticize her own army’s actions in the border dispute, which led to her suspension after opponents accusing her of compromising the country’s interests.

The most recent flare-up came after five Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion last week, with the incident prompting Thailand to downgrade diplomatic relations with its neighbor.

That was followed by days of deadly clashes and heavy weapons fire across their disputed border, displacing more than 139,000 people from seven provinces in Thailand, and at least 80,000 people in Cambodia.

Thailand on Monday said 25 people have been killed since hostilities began, 14 of whom are civilians.

Cambodian authorities previously said that in Oddar Meanchey province, which borders Thailand’s Surin, 13 people had been killed, including eight civilians, and 50 wounded.

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