On the afternoon of December 25, 2023, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council attended the fourth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting at Ziguangge of Zhongnanhai via video link. Li Qiang and Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing co-hosted the meeting and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh were present.
Li Qiang said, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) is an important undertaking initiated and advanced by the six countries of the Lancang-Mekong region. Since its inception seven years ago, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and leaders of other countries, the six countries have always upheld equality, sincerity, mutual assistance and kinship, creating a powerful engine for development, building a strong shield for common security, and strengthening bonds of mutual understanding and goodwill. In particular, China has successively announced joint efforts to build a bilateral community with a shared future together with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, further contributing to positive progress in building a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future and setting an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind. Li Qiang said, the Lancang-Mekong countries need to perseveringly advance the common undertaking, constantly deepen and substantiate the building of a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future, make efforts to build an exemplar for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, a pacesetter for implementing the Global Development Initiative, a pioneer for implementing the Global Security Initiative and a front-runner for implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, continue to improve the well-being of the people in all countries and support each other and move forward side by side on the path to realize modernization.
Li Qiang put forward four proposals on strengthening Lancang-Mekong cooperation. First, deepen integrated development, adhere to openness and cooperation, jointly plan and implement strategic interconnectivity projects in the Lancang-Mekong region, promote the upgrading of cooperation projects in cross-border economy and trade, production capacity and agriculture, maintain the security and stability of industrial and supply chains, and strengthen cooperation in smart manufacturing and big data. China will set up a special loan on LMC for common development to support key projects of each country. Second, promote green cooperation, fully respect the legitimate rights and interests of all countries in rational development and utilization of water resources, and accommodate each other's concerns. China is ready to explore and carry out cooperation with other countries on Lancang-Mekong whole-basin governance and vigorously promote cooperation on energy transition and ecological protection. Third, strengthen security governance, advance common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security in a coordinated manner, deepen the advancement of the Safety of the Lancang-Mekong Region, and forcefully crack down on crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud. Fourth, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges. China supports in holding the forum for young entrepreneurs of Lancang-Mekong countries and is ready to work with all parties to foster new highlights of think tanks and sub-national cooperation.
Leaders attending the meeting expressed sincere sympathies to the Chinese side over the casualties caused by the earthquake in Gansu. All parties spoke highly of the fruitful outcomes of LMC, and thanked China for its outstanding contribution to advancing LMC, saying that based on the important principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit, openness, inclusiveness and non-interference in internal affairs, LMC is an important platform for improving the well-being of the people in the region, safeguarding regional peace and development, and promoting regional economic integration. The six countries should share opportunities and meet challenges together, jointly plan the future development of LMC, and strengthen cooperation in areas including agriculture, innovation, poverty reduction, interconnectivity, digital economy, green development, water resources, tourism, people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as combating cyber and telecom fraud, further deepen and substantiate LMC, create a Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Economic Development Belt, and build a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future.
The meeting released the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration of the Fourth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting, the Five-year Plan of Action on the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (2023-2027) and the Joint Initiative on Building the Lancang-Mekong Innovative Corridor. Thailand will take over the next co-chairmanship of LMC.
Wu Zhenglong was present at the meeting.