Lancang-Mekong Cooperation: After Five Fruitful Years, A New Journey Awaits
On March 23, 2016, the first LMC Leaders’ Meeting was successfully held in Sanya, Hainan. In the spirit of a “shared river, shared future”, leaders of China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam jointly announced the launch of the LMC – a new type of sub-regional framework – and decided to build a community with a shared future of peace and prosperity among Lancang-Mekong countries. Five years on, the LMC has gone through the phases of nurturing and rapid expansion and has entered a new stage of comprehensive development. The LMC has become a source of dynamic development of participating countries and set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Over the past five years, we have established a sound platform and laid a solid foundation for our cooperation and deepened mutual trust. President Xi Jinping places great importance on China’s relations with its neighbours. He has held dozens of meetings and talks with leaders of the Mekong countries, which charted the course for friendship and cooperation among the six countries. Premier Li Keqiang attended every LMC leaders’ meeting and worked with the leaders of the five Mekong countries to draw up plans for the LMC.
Together, the LMC countries are actively advancing a community of shared future of peace and prosperity. China has formed a community with a shared future with the Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar respectively. In the spirit of upholding our independence, relying on our own strength and pursuing extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, we have committed ourselves to fostering a peaceful, stable, united and harmonious Lancang-Mekong sub-region and worked hand in hand for the sustainable development and common prosperity of our six countries.
Wang Yi
