Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont held talks with his Cambodian counterpart yesterday and confirmed there would be no change in bilateral ties following the September 19 coup.

During his one-day trip, Surayud told Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that Thailand would hold elections in October next year as promised by the military, which ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup.

"The Thai government is committed to its promise to hold elections," Surayud was quoted by Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith as telling Hun Sen.

Cambodia was the second of Surayud's first overseas visits since taking office. The trip followed Surayud's visit on Saturday to neighbouring Laos, where he held talks with Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh.

Surayud also reassured Hun Sen that there would be no change in bilateral relations following the coup, said government spokesperson Yongyuth Mayalarp.

Yongyuth said Surayud also informed Hun Sen about the situation in the three southernmost provinces.

The prime minister said he had visited the area often during his time as a Privy Council member and believed that a good education system would foster understanding among youths and help resolve the problems there.

Surayud also said the two neighbouring countries should increase cooperation in fighting the spread of bird flu, which has killed 17 people in Thailand and six in Cambodia, said Yongyuth.

The new government will continue talks with Cambodia on dividing offshore energy resources along their border and arranging financing for several new roads linking the countries, he said.

The energy deal and a road project linking Thailand with Siem Reap, gateway to Cambodia's Angkor Wat complex, were launched by Hun Sen and deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Surayud's next trip will be to Malaysia on Wednesday.

He is expected to visit remaining Asean capitals soon. He is also scheduled to travel to China later this month to mark the 15th anniversary of China-Asean ties.

Surayud will also join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hanoi next month as well as an Asean summit in the Philippines in December.