Lancang-Mekong foreign ministers commit to enhanced cooperation at the Thailand Summit
The ninth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting concluded on Friday in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with a renewed commitment from the six member countries to bolster connectivity and collaboration across multiple sectors.
The gathering, which brought together top diplomats from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, highlighted the LMC’s growing significance as an adynamic and fruitful regional mechanism.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who co-chaired the meeting alongside Thailand’s Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Eksiri Pintaruchi, emphasised the LMC’s progress in building a community with a shared future. He noted that the cooperation among Lancang-Mekong countries has not only delivered tangible benefits to their populations but also contributed to regional stability and prosperity.
“China’s commitment to deepening reform and advancing Chinese-style modernisation will open new avenues for modernisation in LMC countries,” Wang stated. He proposed a four-point plan to guide the next phase of LMC cooperation, focussing on maintaining peace and stability, driving innovation, fostering interconnected development, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges.
Established in 2016, the LMC has quickly become a pivotal platform for fostering regional collaboration. The foreign ministers at the meeting praised the LMC’s rapid development, noting that it has effectively narrowed development gaps in the region and supported the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration process.
The meeting strongly endorsed China’s role in the LMC Special Fund, which has financed numerous projects aimed at improving interconnectivity, innovation, food security, energy, water resources, and climate change resilience. These initiatives have been vital in enhancing regional cooperation and addressing shared challenges.
Participants also reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the momentum of Lancang-Mekong cooperation, focusing on sustainable development, regional peace and the well-being of their citizens. Joint efforts will be intensified to combat cross-border crime, promote cultural exchanges, and deepen agricultural collaboration.
The meeting concluded with the issuance of a joint press release, along with statements on specific areas of cooperation, including water resources, clean air, and cross-border crime. Additionally, a report was released reviewing the progress made in 2023 in implementing the LMC’s five-year action plan, alongside the 2024 list of LMC Special Fund-supported projects and a think tank report on building a community with a shared future.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held separate bilateral discussions with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, further solidifying ties between China and its regional partners.
