Dm Monitoring
BEIJING: Leaders of the Mekong countries vowed to work together with China to step up the Lancang-Mekong cooperation.
The leaders’ remarks were made at the third Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) leaders’ meeting, which was held via video link on Monday.
Initiated by China, the LMC consists of six countries, namely China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said thanks to the sincere and close partnership among the six countries, the LMC has achieved tangible results over the past four years and more.
Thanking the Chinese government for attaching great importance to this cooperation mechanism, which has played a positive role in promoting Lancang-Mekong cooperation, the prime minister said Laos agrees to China’s proposal for the Lancang-Mekong sub-regional mechanism to strengthen cooperation with other sub-regional mechanisms.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodian prime minister, said as major grain producers, the five Mekong countries urgently need to strengthen cooperation with China in food security and food trade.
Cambodia will continue to firmly push forward Lancang-Mekong cooperation with other parties, and looks forward to working with other members of the LMC to build a community with a shared future for Lancang-Mekong region, Hun Sen added.
Noting the six LMC member states are linked by mountains and rivers, share similar cultures and enjoy profound friendship, Myanmar President U Win Myint said Myanmar appreciates China’s rapid and comprehensive control of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The president said he hopes that the Mekong countries will work together to bring the pandemic under control at an early date and promote rapid economic and social recovery through solidarity and cooperation.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said although the meeting was held via video, it demonstrated the steadfast determination from all sides to expand cooperation.
Thailand also supports better cooperation among the countries of upstream, midstream and downstream Mekong River, so as to benefit the nations and peoples along the river, said the prime minister.
