Lancang-Mekong Cooperation has grown into the most dynamic and promising “golden model” of regional cooperation over the past decade, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
Mao introduced the 11th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the first LMC Leaders' Meeting.
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, will chair the 11th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Beijing from Nov. 3 to 4.
"Over the past 10 years, through the joint efforts of all basin countries, LMC has continuously expanded, becoming a 'golden model' for regional cooperation with the greatest vitality and potential. The building of a bilateral and multilateral community with a shared future between China and the five Mekong countries has been steadily deepened, with trade volume exceeding 500 billion U.S. dollars, up 150 percent from 10 years ago. The development of the Lancang-Mekong Economic Development Belt has yielded fruitful results, the innovation corridor has become a new highlight, and regional power grid connectivity has accelerated. The LMC Special Fund has supported more than 1,000 'small yet smart' projects. Initiatives such as the 'Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Action' and the 'Hundred, Thousand, Ten Thousand Action Plan on Lancang-Mekong Agricultural Cooperation' have taken effect, while the 'Lancang-Mekong Visa' has facilitated personnel exchanges across the six nations," Mao said.
"As changes unseen in a century accelerate across the world, the role of LMC in promoting open development and maintaining peace and stability has become increasingly prominent. China hopes this foreign ministers' meeting will allow us to work alongside the five Mekong countries to review cooperation experience, plan future directions, focus on exploring a new blueprint for 'LMC 2.0,' develop new mechanisms for open cooperation, build new platforms for innovative industries, and foster new achievements in law enforcement and security cooperation, injecting strong momentum into building a community with a shared future of peace, prosperity, and sustainable development among Lancang-Mekong countries," she said.
The LMC brings together China and the five Mekong countries -- Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Lancang-Mekong Cooperation sets golden model for regional integration: spokeswoman
