Hosted by Yunnan University (YNU), a seminar on deepening Lancang-Mekong Cooperation was held on March 23 in Kunming, the capital city of Southwest China's Yunnan province.

Held both online and offline, the seminar was participated in by dozens of experts and scholars from Chinese and foreign academic institutions, scientific research institutes, universities and government departments.

Among the participants were representatives from the International Department of the Central Committee of CPC, the Party School of the Central Committee of CPC, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Tsinghua University, China Foreign Affairs University, Yunnan Development and Reform Commission, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences and the Royal Academy of Cambodia.

They discussed a range of topics, including the progress, achievements and experience of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation over the past five years, and the opportunities, challenges and paths for the construction of a community of Lancang-Mekong countries. The meeting also witnessed a discussion on the prospects and challenges of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation in the post-pandemic era.

More than 20 participating experts and scholars delivered speeches at the seminar.

The launch ceremony for the Blue Book of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation 2020 and promotional activities for the fourth edition of Yunnan University Area Studies were also held during the event.

The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation is a new sub-regional cooperation mechanism jointly initiated and constructed by China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The first leaders' meeting was held in Sanya, Hainan province, on March 23, 2016.

The seminar held in Kunming is part of a series of activities to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, aiming to deepen friendships and practical cooperation, promote the economic and social development of the participating countries and enhance the well-being of their people.