The Mekong-Lancang River is a force of nature that links the countries of China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Seven years ago in 2016, it compelled the establishment of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation in order to benefit the peoples of all six countries.

The concept of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation, “ development first, equality, practicality and efficiency, openness and inclusiveness”, promotes the Lancang-Mekong culture of equal treatment, sincerity, mutual assistance and family-like atmosphere, striving for cooperation, and promoting development wholeheartedly for continuous improvement of the MLC.

By upholding the principles stated in the concept by all members, the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation endures, becomes more effective and productive, and gives more benefits to all participating countries.

As one of the participating and beneficiary countries, Myanmar would like to express her sincere thanks to China for its financial support for the 92 MLC Special Fund projects implemented by seventeen ministries in 34 cooperation areas.

The past seven years have been a continuous journey of dedicated cooperation and fruitful outcomes. With the
outcome of the Seventh Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that took place in Bagan on July 4, 2022, the MLC is set to deepen both horizontally and vertically through a variety of objectives.

These include the six cooperation directions, namely, strengthening strategic guidance, deepening economic integration, expanding agricultural cooperation, pursuing green development, promoting digital cooperation and maintaining closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges.The meeting also endorsed the Five-Year Plan of Action on the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (2023-2027) and issued six documents including a joint press communique and joint statements.

This Five-Year Plan of Action on the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation will be submitted to the upcoming fourth MLC Leaders’ Meeting for approval.

Distinguished Participants,

The Lancang-Mekong river has historically been a bridge for cultural and economic exchanges between China and Southeast Asia through trade and travel. It has fostered many shared elements from rice cultivation to the dissemination of Buddhism and dragon boat racing across China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. These cultural ties can also be seen in the various art forms and adaptations of historical epics like the Ramayana, forming a valuable shared heritage and sense of community.

Additionally, educational initiatives and tourism serve to further strengthen the foundation for current and future cooperation within the MLC.

Educational initiatives, crucial in Lancang-Mekong cooperation, focus on improving the quality of education and accessibility while fostering mutual learning. Examples include scholarships, student exchanges, joint research projects, and vocational training under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism. Notable efforts, like the 2021 China-Thailand Memorandum of Understanding on Vocational Education and the Lancang-Mekong Vocational Education Training Center in Cambodia, contribute to the development of skills and coordination among the six countries.

Tourism connects Lancang-Mekong countries through cultural exchange, bringing positive impacts like increased awareness of cultural heritage and generating income for local communities. But it can also create challenges through environmental and social problems. To ensure sustainable tourism, practices include developing standards for tourism management, creating tailored products and services, and promoting tourism education and awareness, especially among the younger generation.

The importance of social and cultural exchange is vital for promoting mutual understanding and respect among the six countries. It adds variety and richness to our cultural identities, displaying our unique Asian cultures for the world to see. This exchange enhances soft power and contributes to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, advancing South-South cooperation.

Distinguished Participants,

I would also like to take this opportunity to talk about the effects of global warming, a deeply pressing cause of concern for all of us. The United Nations Environment Programme’s annual Emissions Gap report of 20 Nov. states that world temperatures had risen above 1.5C (2.7F), a safe limit to prevent catastrophic points of no return, for more than 80 days, which is nearly a quarter of this year. It also

reported that nearly 1.2C (2.2F) of global heating has caused a rapid increase in deadly natural disasters worldwide including hurricanes, floods and heatwaves. “This year is expected to be the hottest in human history,” according to the UNEP. According to the UNEP chief, none of the G20 nations, the world’s wealthiest economies and collectively responsible for approximately 80% of emissions, have not been able to reduce their emissions in accordance with their emission reduction targets.

It is important to note that once greenhouse gasses have been emitted, they affect us and contribute to global warming as a whole regardless of where they originated from. Next year is expected to have even more days of above 1.5C (2.7F) temperature at the current trend of emissions that will affect people from both G20 and non-G20 member countries.

Against this backdrop, I would like to urge the MLC to step up cooperation in preventing degradation and preservation of environment in all aspects.

Let us deepen the MLC, and bring the MLC to a new stage of higher-quality and higher-level development.

I wish the Second Eminent Persons Forum on Mekong Lancang Cooperation every success!

Thank you.