Huang Xilian, Deputy General Director of Department of Asian Affairs under the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that that the Lancang Mekong Cooperation Meeting (LMC) has obtained significant achievements since its implementation in early 2016, contributing to enhancing economic and trade cooperation, cultural exchange and connectivity among member countries.
The 3rd Lancang-Mekong Cooperation meeting was held in Dali, the southwest China’s Yunnan province on December 15, with the attendance of foreign ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam.
The LMC focuses cooperation in prioritized fields like water resources management, trade and economic cooperation, connectivity, environment protection, community health and poverty reduction.
It is expected that the mechanism will help promote advantages of the six countries which are closely related in geography and culture, provide mutual economic assistance, stimulate each country’s growth potential and create a new vitality for Asian development and improve livelihood.
During the meeting, suggestions for the LMC to focus on enhancing sustainable management and use of Mekong River water resources to balance interests and responsibility of countries along the river was also put forward.
Participants reviewed the implementation of outcomes of the first and second meetings and discussed measures to promote regional sustainable development.
Over the past two years, LMC member countries have completed many early-harvest projects, established a secretariat/ national coordinating centre in each country and the MLC Special Fund.
Youth exchanges, cultural and tourism cooperation held in the framework have raised mutual understanding and friendship among peoples.
The ministers also agreed that the LMC should do more to help narrow development gap and support the building of the ASEAN Community. They approved the list of projects eligible for financial assistance provided by MLC Special Fund.
In preparation for the second MLC Summit slated for January 10 – 11, 2018 in Cambodia, the ministers agreed on contents of several documents for submission to LMC leaders, including the LMC Action Plan for 2018-2022 and the list of MLC projects, second stage.
Cambodia’s Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Mr. Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister, co-chaired the meeting.
Mr. Prak Sokhonn also held a bilateral talk with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the 3rd Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
