On December 7, 2023, the 8th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Beijing. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and Minister of the Communist Party of China, and Myanmar Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dansui co-chaired the meeting, which was attended by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Song Jinda, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bambi, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, and Lao Party Central Liaison Department Director Thongsavan attended. Focusing on the theme of "Jointly Advancing to Modernization and Cultivating New Advantages in Sub-regional Development", the meeting reviewed the progress of the LMC, planned the key tasks for the next stage, made good preparations for the Fourth LMC Leaders' Meeting, and built consensus.
Wang Yi said that the six Lancang-Mekong countries are connected by mountains and rivers and people, and they are like a family by drinking the same river water. The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) has a high starting point, rapid development and wide benefits, and the breadth and depth of cooperation have been continuously expanded, injecting new vitality into the prosperity and development of the sub-region and bringing tangible benefits to the people of the sub-region. Since the last Foreign Ministers' Meeting, all parties have upheld the Lancang-Mekong spirit of "development first, consultation on an equal footing, pragmatism and efficiency, openness and inclusiveness", solidly promoted cooperation in various fields, achieved a series of new results, and created many new highlights. Under the guidance of the high-level strategy, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation has been continuously upgraded in quality, with the joint working groups in the six priority areas of connectivity, production capacity cooperation, cross-border economy, water resources, agriculture and poverty alleviation progressing in an orderly manner, and the mechanisms of the Center for Water Resources, Agriculture, Environmental Protection, Youth Exchange and Cooperation, and the Global Mekong Research Center operating efficiently, achieving "progress every day, results every month, and progress every year". Economic and trade exchanges have accelerated across the board, with the amount between China and the Mekong countries reaching US$416.7 billion in 2022, doubling from seven years ago. Cross-border investment by enterprises from various countries has become more active, injecting impetus and vitality into local economic development. People's livelihood and well-being have continued to improve, and a series of cooperation projects benefiting the country and the people, such as the "Harvest Lancang-Mekong Project" project cluster, the Lancang-Mekong Ganquan Action Plan, and the Green Lancang-Mekong Plan, have enabled the people in the river basin to truly feel the dividends of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. The Lancang-Mekong people know each other well, and all parties continue to increase investment in education, culture, women, poverty alleviation, sports and other areas of people's livelihood, and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation have become more and more colorful, which has strengthened the emotional ties between the people of the six countries and strengthened the sense of community as a family.
Wang Yi said that the Lancang-Mekong countries are at an important juncture in their new development, and China will resolutely implement the concept of amity, sincerity, benevolence and tolerance in neighboring diplomacy put forward by President China, and work with the Mekong countries to share development opportunities, meet risks and challenges, jointly build a community with a shared future for peace and prosperity, and work together to build the Belt and Road Demonstration Zone, the Global Development Initiative Pilot Zone, the Global Security Initiative Experimental Zone and the Global Civilization Initiative First Shan Zone.
Wang Yi suggested that the LMC should focus on six directions in the next stage: first, building a closer community with a shared future;The second is to create a more interconnected economic development belt;The third is to create a safer environment for developmentFourth, the development prospect of moving towards more digitalization;Fifth, deepen people-to-people cooperation with more distinctive characteristicsSixth, advocate the concept of more inclusive cooperation. All parties should firmly grasp the general direction of building a community with a shared future for peace and prosperity in the Lancang-Mekong countries, unite and cooperate, forge ahead, cultivate new opportunities for common development with a new path of modernization, and draw a new picture of common prosperity with new achievements in modernization, so as to create a better tomorrow for the people of Lancang-Mekong countries.
The foreign ministers spoke highly of the positive progress made in the LMC and unanimously agreed that the LMC has become an important platform for maintaining regional peace and stability, promoting regional development and prosperity, and industrialization and modernization of all countries. All parties appreciated China's positive contribution to promoting the LMC and agreed with China's suggestions on the direction of work in the next stage. All parties agreed to strengthen solidarity and close cooperation, uphold mutual trust and respect, strengthen the development of the Lancang-Mekong Economic Development Belt, deepen cooperation in priority areas such as connectivity, further unleash development potential, jointly address global challenges, and work together to build a closer Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future.
The Foreign Ministers' Meeting distributed the 2022 Progress Report of the Five-Year Action Plan of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and the List of 2023 Support Projects for the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Project.
On December 7, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Song Jinda in Beijing.
Wang Yi said that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia and the "China-Cambodia Friendship Year", and the President met with King Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Manet twice, and maintained strategic communication with Prince Hun Sen, which fully reflects the particularity and high level of China-Cambodia relations. The two countries took the lead in signing the new version of the Action Plan for Building a China-Cambodia Community with a Shared Future, which has played an exemplary role in promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Congratulations on the 70th anniversary of Cambodia's independence, and I am very pleased to see that under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, Cambodia's new ** governance has achieved outstanding results in the past 100 days. China will always be a reliable and reliable friend of Cambodia, and will, as always, support Cambodia in taking a development path suited to its national conditions, support Cambodia in defending national sovereignty, independence and national dignity, and support Cambodia's new leadership in maintaining stability, developing the economy and improving people's livelihood, and is willing to provide assistance to the best of its ability in this regard.
Wang Yi stressed that in the face of the complex evolution of the international and regional situation, China and Cambodia should unswervingly handle their own affairs, unswervingly develop China-Cambodia friendship, and unswervingly follow the path of unity, cooperation and win-win results. The two sides should give full play to the role of high-level strategic guidance and set the right direction for the construction of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future. It is necessary to implement the high-level consensus between the two countries, deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and promote more visible results in the "Fish and Rice Corridor" and "Industrial Development Corridor", so that China-Cambodia practical cooperation can benefit more people of the two countries. Next year will be the "China-Cambodia Year of People-to-People Exchanges", and the two sides can take this opportunity to expand people-to-people exchanges and cultivate the foundation of friendship. China is willing to work with Cambodia and other countries to crack down on online gambling and wire fraud and transnational crimes, thoroughly eradicate relevant criminal gangs, and safeguard social stability in regional countries.
Song Jinda said that Cambodia attaches great importance to Cambodia-China relations, thanks China for its long-term support, and will not forget China's help in Cambodia's fight against the epidemic. China is a partner in Cambodia's development, and Cambodia's economic and social development and safeguarding national independence have benefited from cooperation with China. Prince Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet have met with President Hun Manet many times and reached important consensus on strengthening the building of a Cambodia-China community with a shared future and promoting cooperation in various fields. Cambodia is actively implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and is willing to take next year's Cambodia-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges as an opportunity to deepen people-to-people exchanges and attract more Chinese tourists. Cambodia and China's infrastructure construction under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative has brought tangible benefits to the Cambodian people, and the two sides should further strengthen cooperation to refute the attacks and smears of some foreign forces on the Belt and Road Initiative with successful practice.
The two sides agreed to work closely together to hold the 8th LMC Foreign Ministers' Meeting and promote greater development of the LMC.