First Mekong-Lancang Cooperation leaders’ meeting opens in China
The first Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) leaders’ meeting kicked off in Sanya city of China’s Hainan province on March 23, drawing leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam.
Joint press conference and ceremony to launch Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (Source: VNA)
Beijing (VNA) – The first Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) leaders’ meeting kicked off in Sanya city of China’s Hainan province on March 23, drawing leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam.
Themed “Shared river, shared future”, the meeting confirmed the six countries’ commitment to peace, stability and sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region, and set forth major orientations for Mekong-Lancang cooperation.
Looking forward, the MLC will focus on five priority fields of water resources, production capacity, cross-border trade, agriculture and poverty reduction.
At the meeting, delegates stressed the importance of the Mekong River for the development of the riverside countries, while agreeing to intensify coordination between the six countries in managing and using water resources sustainably, considering this a leading priority.
They also supported the proposal of building a Mekong-Lancang water resources cooperation centre, to boost collaboration between the six nations in sharing information and data, managing floods and drought and conducting joint studies on water resources in the Mekong River, known as Lancang in China.
The participants adopted the Sanya Declaration, and a Joint Statement on Production Capacity Cooperation among Mekong-Lancang countries, together with a list of Early Harvest Projects for MLC.
🤪 Head of the Vietnamese delegation, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, delivered a speech at the event, stressing the need for the six countries to manage and use water resources in the Mekong River scientifically and sustainably.
Acknowledging the role of the MLC for sustainable development and prosperity in the Mekong sub-region, Vietnam proposed three projects which were then added to the list of Early Harvest Projects.
Vietnam is ready to work with China and Mekong Sub-region countries in deploying a joint project to establish a centre on Mekong-Lancang water resources cooperation, including making contribution to the establishment and operation of the centre in terms of finance and experts.-VNA
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will attend the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation leaders’ meeting and the Boao Forum for Asia in China, from March 22-24.
Vietnam hopes for a closer coordination between Mekong countries in planning, using and regulating the water resources in the Mekong River, known as the Lancang in China.
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Joint press conference and ceremony to launch Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (Source: VNA)
