China marked the 10th anniversary of the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders’ Meeting with a reception in Beijing on Monday attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, diplomats from the five Mekong countries, including Myanmar Ambassador to China Zaw Win Myint, and representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Wang said the six LMC countries have expanded cooperation over the past decade in trade, infrastructure, public health, disaster management and people‑to‑people exchanges. He said China aims to advance an upgraded “LMC 2.0,” focusing on the digital economy, artificial intelligence, green energy, tourism cooperation and joint efforts against cross‑border crime.
He vowed to work with the five Mekong countries to jointly open a new “golden decade” of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. Two reports outlining long‑term regional connectivity and development plans for the next decade were released at the event.
The reception comes as the Myanmar junta’s Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Yangon have been holding their own commemorative events since early March.
The LMC—launched by China in 2016—was established as a sub‑regional mechanism with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. It was created in part to manage growing concerns from downstream countries over the impact of China’s upstream dam‑development program on the Mekong River.
(Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry)
