Stride for a New Golden Decade of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Together
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand
Zhang Jianwei
The Lancang-Mekong River is the lifeline of the people in this region. Originated from this river, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) was born with the aspiration of drinking from the same river while sharing a closely linked future. It promotes the culture featuring equality, sincerity, mutual assistance and kinship. It blossoms in the spirit of prioritizing development, equal consultation, pragmatism and efficiency, as well as openness and inclusiveness.
As one of the most dynamic and potential regional mechanisms, the LMC is committed to enhancing the well-being of the people of the six countries and promoting stability and prosperity of the region.
The past decade has been a journey of dedicated cooperation and fruitful outcomes. The six countries are endeavored to maintain stability and withstand the challenge. Therefore, all six countries have continuously deepened the strategic mutual trust, and been committed to building bilateral communities with a shared future.
All six countries also have clarified the overarching goal of building a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future, as being good neighbors, friends, and partners who trust each other.
All six countries build up strong safeguard of common security, through cooperation in Safe Lancang-Mekong Initiative and combating online scam as well as other crimes，to keep improving the overall regional security situation.
All six countries are energized to promote development. Both hard and soft connectivities have been strengthened. Industrial and supply chain cooperation has been deepened. The Innovation Corridor has become a new highlight of development. With all of that , the building of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Economic Development Belt has made a smooth start.
All six countries are committed to strengthening the bond of mutual understanding and close relatioship, the six countries carry out nearly a thousand projects supported by the LMC Special Fund in water resources, agriculture, poverty reduction, health, women, culture, and other fields, effectively enhancing exchanges and cooperation and bringing tangible benefits to the people of the basin countries.
Recently, the Tenth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held successfully in Anning, Yunnan. Mr. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister of China co-chaired the meeting with Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and attended the joint press meeting.
Mr. Wang Yi shared his outlook on the prospects of LMC, emphasized that the six countries would strive to build an “LMC 2.0” characterized by unity and cooperation, openness and win-win outcomes, green innovation, and peace and tranquility，jointly opening a new golden decade of LMC and accelerating the building of a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future of peace and prosperity.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his counterparts of the other five countries respectively. The foreign ministers of China, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar held informal talks. The foreign ministers of China, Thailand and Cambodia also held a tea gathering. They had candid and friendly exchanges on bilateral relations and regional issues of common concerns such as combating cross-border crimes, ect and had discussions on current hot issues, demonstrating the commitment and wisdom of the Lancang-Mekong family to deepen mutual understanding and trust, as well as to jointly maintain regional peace, stability, prosperity and development, and sending out a strong and positive signal beyond the region.
The world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century, and the region is also facing new opportunities and challenges. As a responsible major country, China is always committed to upholding the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness when developing relations with neibours, adhering to the principle of building good-neighborly relationships and partnerships, as well as building an amicable, peaceful and prosperous neighborhood.
Together with the other Lancang-Mekong countries, China will continue to accelerate the building of a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future with an inclusive mindset, open attitude, and spirit of solidarity, and safeguard and develop the common home.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Thailand diplomatic relations and Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship. China looks forward to continuing high-level visits and a series of celebrating activities with Thailand, and supports Thailand in hosting the 5th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Summit.
China has full confidence that the historic progress of China-Thailand relations and the vigorous development of LMC will benefit both countries and our people, contribute to regional peace, development and prosperity for a brighter future !
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