The MLC is a sub-regional cooperation mechanism that was jointly established in 2016 by six countries along the Mekong River, namely Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The biennial event is organised in rotation among member countries.
The first summit was convened on March 23, 2016, mapping out orientations for the cooperation mechanism, which is promoting comprehensive connection to build a responsible community and common benefit in the Mekong sub-region.
It also aims to improve mutual trust and understanding for maintaining peace and stability; foster sustainable development, poverty reduction; narrow the development gap and boost comprehensive integration into regional and global economies; strengthen the friendship among the countries.
The member countries will work together to enhance cooperation in three pillars of politics-security; economy and sustainable development; culture-society and people-to-people exchange in the principles of equality, coordination, mutual consultation, voluntariness, contribution, benefit sharing, and respect for the United Nations Charter and international law.
Cooperation within the summit will focus on priority fields of water resources management; connectivity; production capacity collaboration; cross-border economic cooperation; agriculture and poverty reduction.
So far, a number of working groups related to water resources, poverty reduction, connectivity, and production capacity collaboration.
Projects approved at the first Summit have been implemented, while the Mekong-Lancang Special Cooperation Fund was put into operation.
At the first event of this kind, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said the cooperation mechanism could pay an important role in promoting sustainable development in the Mekong-sub region, strengthening relations among six countries, supporting the countries in implementing the UN Agenda 2030 and deepening the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership.
To fully tap potential and new cooperation mechanisms, it is necessary to sustainably use the Mekong River’s water resources in the context of serious droughts and salt intrusion in the lower course of the Mekong River.
Vietnam has actively joined and made crucial contributions to Ministerial-level meetings and Senior Officials' Meetings, including proposing cooperation related to water resources, economic connection; as well as projects on flood and drought management in the Mekong River basin, and those on harmonization of standards and procedures among the countries.
Vietnam was willing to coordinate with China and other Sub-Mekong countries to develop a joint project to establish a centre for Mekong-Lancang water resource cooperation.
At the second Summit, the member countries are expected to approve the Phnom Penh Declaration and the five-year Action Plan for Mekong-Lancang cooperation in 2018-2022.
With the theme “Peaceful river and our sustainable development”, the summit will review cooperation among the countries over the last two years, discuss future cooperation orientations, and hear reports from working groups.
VNA/VNP
