The Thai delegation - which included Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva - returned seven heads from 12th and 13th century Angkorian statues looted from the kingdom over the past decade.

'I think that the handover of artifacts today shows the successful cooperation and good relationship of our two countries,' Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said in a ceremony at Cambodia's ministry of foreign affairs.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since July last year when they became mired in a border standoff over disputed land near an ancient Khmer temple in which seven Thai and Cambodian troops have been killed.

Sporadic fighting began when Thailand was angered after the 11th-century Preah Vihear cliff-top ruins were granted United Nations World Heritage status.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen held talks with Abhisit on Friday in which he asked for help preserving his country's heritage, said a government spokesman.

'During the meeting Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked Abhisit and urged him to cooperate to fight against the smuggling of artifacts and return remaining artifacts to Cambodia,' spokesman Eang Sophalleth said.

Ownership of the temple was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 but the two countries are in dispute over five square kilometres (two square miles) of land around it that has yet to be officially demarcated. -- AFP