Lancang-Mekong nations agree to deepen cooperation

Senior officials from China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam agreed this week to deepen efforts to work together under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in the subregion.

At the fourth LMC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Monday in Luang Prabang, Laos, the ministers decided to promote greater cooperation in new areas and new initiatives for mutual benefit and shared prosperity, featuring highquality production capacity cooperation and the building of the LMC Economic Development Belt.

Lancang-Mekong Cooperation is a subregional mechanism jointly established by the six countries in March 2016.

The river, originating in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China, is called the Lancang in China and the Mekong when it flows through the other five countries before emptying into the sea.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Laotian Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith co-chaired the meeting.

Wang said the six countries can rely on the Lancang-Mekong waterway, utilizing key industrial towns and infrastructure projects to improve quality, raise efficiency and seek upgrading of the subregion’s economic development.

As international rules are being threatened by unilateralism and protectionism, Wang underlined the need for the six countries to deepen their partnership to jointly build the LMC Economic Development Belt, promote high-quality production capacity cooperation and foster new growth areas to promote sustainable development and prosperity.

The LMC mechanism has seen rapid development and positive outcomes. It has added momentum to China-ASEAN cooperation and made relations between the region’s countries even better, Wang said.

The meeting was also attended by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, Union Minister for International Cooperation of Myanmar U Kyaw Tin, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Hailing China as the closest friend and partner of Mekong River countries, the ministers expressed appreciation to China for its contributions, especially through the LMC framework to enhance economic integration.

The ministers agreed to continue to synergize LMC development with the development strategies of each country, strengthen infrastructure construction and subregional connectivity, while exploring opportunities of improving production capacity and promoting interregional cooperation.