The final of the fifth Youth Innovation Competition on Lancang-Mekong Region's Governance and Development (YICMG2021) was held online in early July. The event was co-organized by the Lancang-Mekong Youth Exchange and Cooperation Center and Fudan University.

A total of 18 expert judges and 51contestants from nine universities in China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the event, sharing their innovative solutions for regional governance under the theme of "Internet and Social Life.”

The team from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam proposed using the internet to solve problems with the selling of agricultural products and strive for a win-win result by increasing farmers' incomes and protecting the environment. The team from the Prince of Songkla University in Thailand launched a project called Young Old Expertise Exchanger to find suitable jobs for the elderly via the internet. Meanwhile, the team from the National University of Laos put forward its I-Refill project, aimed at tackling the issue of plastic pollution by creating a new type of reusable bottle.

In a special portion of the event called "Mekong Café," there were one-on-one meetings between experts and participants to brainstorm project incubation. 

Launched in 2016 and held by well-known universities in six countries on a rotating basis, the Youth Innovation Competition on Lancang-Mekong Region's Governance and Development looks to nurture a backup force for sustainable development. Not only does this event help establish a large number of youth innovation and entrepreneurship projects, but it also creates an excellent brand for youth cultural exchange under the framework of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.