The "2024 LMC Week Activities on Water Resources" took place in Beijing on April 26, focusing on the implementation of the consensus reached at the Lancang-Mekong Countries Leaders' Meeting and the deepening of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) on water resources.
The event was attended by Jin Hai, director general of the Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology of China's Ministry of Water Resources; Li Xin, counselor of the Department of Asian Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Sun Lushan, counselor of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who all delivered speeches.
Representatives from the embassies of Mekong countries in China were also present and delivered speeches, including Phouva Samounty, deputy chief of mission of the Lao Embassy; Daw Zin Mar Thein, deputy head of the Myanmar Embassy; Win Myat Aung, education counsellor of the Myanmar Embassy; Chalongkwan Tavarayuth, counsellor of the Thai Embassy; Le Trung Kien, counsellor of the Vietnamese Embassy; and Hor Dolla Ca, first secretary of the Cambodian Embassy.
Li Xin emphasized the interconnectedness among the six Lancang-Mekong countries, highlighting the region's priorities over the past eight years, including development, equality, pragmatism, and openness. He noted that the LMC has become a model of regional collaboration, with over 700 projects launched, contributing to economic growth and improved livelihoods along the river basin.
Li also mentioned that China has been sharing hydrological data with Mekong countries, which has aided in flood control and drought mitigation. China has initiated several projects, including the "Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Action," aimed at enhancing people's well-being in the region.
Jin Hai underscored the Lancang-Mekong region's inherent advantages for cooperation, along with the solid foundation and strong willingness among the six countries to collaborate. Jin said China is committed to deepening cooperation by sharing water management expertise, enhancing technical exchanges, and facilitating talent development. The country is ready to explore comprehensive governance cooperation across the basin and consistently advance Lancang-Mekong water resources projects. This effort will contribute to building a demonstration area of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and a pioneering area for implementing Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, ultimately enhancing the well-being of people throughout the region.
Zhou Zhiwei, director of the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Center, chaired the opening ceremony. Zhou stressed that water serves as the foundation for cooperation within the Lancang-Mekong region. Over the past few years, this cooperation has made significant progress, yielding notable results and earning recognition from the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting. The event's objectives included implementing the meeting's principles, sharing cooperation achievements, discussing future directions, and strengthening basin-wide governance. This collective effort is expected to build a closer community of shared future of peace and prosperity among Mekong-Lancang countries.
The diplomats from the Mekong countries based in China highly commended the significant progress achieved in Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation. They agreed that the six nations of the region are closely knit, with a promising future for water resources cooperation. Moreover, they acknowledged the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Center as a crucial platform. The diplomats expressed their willingness to actively promote basin-wide governance exchanges and cooperation, share development opportunities, tackle challenges collectively, and contribute to building a community of shared future of peace and prosperity among Mekong-Lancang countries.
Following the event, representatives and young students from the six Lancang-Mekong countries visited the North Canal's diversion hub in Tongzhou district and the Grand Canal Museum in Beijing.