Six countries to discuss measures to boost Lancang-Mekong cooperation

During the three-day event, Deputy PM Minh will join foreign ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and China to review the Lancang-Mekong cooperation, and discuss measures to further accelerate and strengthen the Lancang-Mekong cooperation mechanism.

The meeting also serves as a preparatory step for the 2nd LMC Leaders’ Meeting, scheduled to take place in Cambodia in January 2018.

The foreign ministers’ meeting is expected to issue a joint communique and approve the list of projects for 2017. 

The Lancang-Mekong cooperation mechanism was initiated in November 2015, with the first meeting of LMC leaders having been organized in March 2016 in Hainan province, China. Deputy PM and FM Minh headed the high-level Viet Namese delegation to the event.

The inception of the LMC affirms the commitments of the six Mekong countries to cooperation for peace, stability and sustainable development of the Mekong Subregion and the region, thereby contributing actively to cooperation between the ASEAN member states and China.

With the expectation of boosting the LMC mechanism for sustainable development and prosperity of the Mekong Subregion, Viet Nam has proactively participated in and made active contributions in regards to the key cooperation mechanisms and fields, right from the initial days of the LMC mechanism.

Viet Nam has also recommended some practical projects that match with the priority of the LMC, especially the project on enhancing coordination in managing floods and droughts in the Lancang-Mekong Basin and the project on harmonizing standards and procedures between countries in the Mekong Subregion.

The LMC currently focuses on the five priority fields, including connectivity, production capabilities, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources, agriculture and poverty reduction.

                                                                                                              By Vien Nhu