Mekong-Lancang embarks on a new decade to prosperous development: Chinese Ambassador He Wei
WVR - This is the title of an article by Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei, published in The World & Vietnam Report on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Mekong-Lancang cooperation mechanism.
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| Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei. |
The Mekong-Lancang River flows vigorously, nurturing hundreds of millions of people across six countries in its basin, while also embodying the aspirations for regional development and prosperity.
As a new regional cooperation mechanism built on exchange, construction, and sharing among six countries, the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation has seen remarkable growth since its inception. Over the past decade, it has become a "golden platform" for regional nations to pursue development, bringing tangible benefits to their people.
As a crucial platform for coordination, the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation has set a positive example of collaborative development. Over the past 10 years, strategic trust between China and the five Mekong countries has been strengthened, comprehensive bilateral future-sharing community building has been covered, and the construction of a future-sharing community among Mekong-Lancang countries has been steadily implemented. This has led to the Mekong-Lancang pace of "daily progress, monthly achievements, and annual new heights".
Trade between China and the five Mekong countries is expected to surpass $500 billion by 2025, marking an increase of over 150% since the mechanism's inception. Nearly 1,000 "small but beautiful" projects supported by the Mekong-Lancang Special Fund are actively underway. The six countries are working together to combat transnational crimes such as gambling and online fraud, achieving significant results and maintaining regional peace and security, thereby creating a new landscape for regional development.
As a bridge for cooperation to share opportunities, the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation opens up bright prospects for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. Infrastructure projects like the China-Laos and China-Thailand railways, and the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway have created "golden avenues". The China-Vietnam railway connection projects are progressing steadily, enhancing the transportation network of the Mekong-Lancang basin.
From the regular operation of the Mekong-Lancang international freight train to the booming new business models like cross-border payments and digital trade, both hard and soft connectivity and cooperation in production and supply chains are deepening. Science and technology cooperation and innovation are making new strides. The Mekong-Lancang Youth Astronomy Research Center was inaugurated at Fudan University, China, and the Senior Officials' Meeting on the Mekong-Lancang Innovation Corridor was successfully held, fostering new momentum for regional development.
As a green cradle for ecological protection, the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation has painted a beautiful picture of harmony between humanity and water. Since 2020, China has maintained the provision of year-round hydrological data of the Lancang River to the Mekong countries and has implemented joint regulation mechanisms to mitigate drought and flood damage downstream.
Yunnan Province and neighbouring countries have jointly implemented projects such as rural environmental governance pilots and sustainable water resource management and utilization training, setting an example for environmental management to be replicated and promoted. Solutions like Guangxi's "Smart Cage" and "Future Pig Farm" have been practically applied in Vietnam, providing valuable experiences for developing smart agriculture. The Mekong-Lancang countries are jointly promoting cooperation in water resources, clean energy, and ecological environmental protection, accelerating the construction of a green and low-emission production chain in the region, and safeguarding the lush landscapes of the basin.
As a bond uniting people's hearts for shared happiness, the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation has written a touching story of familial affection. Projects initiated by China, such as the "Solar Village", have illuminated thousands of households. The "Sweet Spring Movement" has provided clean water access to tens of thousands of people. The "Mekong-Lancang Light Journey" has restored sight to hundreds and thousands of cataract patients. The "Mekong-Lancang Heart Journey" has given "new hearts" and new lives to hundreds of children with congenital heart disease. The "Mekong Children's Heart Care" project will continue to offer treatment and surgery opportunities for many pediatric patients. China's "Mekong-Lancang Visa" policy helps foster closer ties among the people of the six countries. The warm flow of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation continuously touches the hearts of the people, contributing positively to strengthening the friendship among the people of the six countries.
China and Vietnam, located at the upstream and downstream of the basin, are both active and important participants in the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation mechanism.
To date, China has supported Vietnam in implementing over 20 projects through the Mekong-Lancang Special Fund, with a cumulative total of nearly $9 million, spanning various fields such as clean water, border trade, infrastructure, agricultural production, and capacity building. These projects range from Cao Bang Province on the Vietnam-China border in the north to Ca Mau Province in the Mekong Delta in the south, including "high-level, large-scale, high-quality" capacity training led by ministries and "small but beautiful" projects that reach deep into the grassroots, benefiting the people. They strongly support the improvement of people's livelihoods and socio-economic development in Vietnam, clearly demonstrating the breadth, depth, and warmth of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation between China and Vietnam.
The achievements of the 10-year Mekong-Lancang Cooperation are invaluable, and the prospects for cooperation in the next decade are highly promising. At this new starting point, China is ready to work with the countries in the basin, including Vietnam, to build a "Mekong-Lancang Cooperation 2.0" that is united, open, mutually beneficial, green, innovative, peaceful, and secure. This will continue to integrate development, persistently take innovation as a driving force, strengthen the foundation of friendship among the peoples, enhance closer partnerships, and create higher-quality cooperation outcomes, realizing the development vision of the Mekong-Lancang countries and accelerating the construction of a Community of Shared Future for Peace and Prosperity among the Mekong-Lancang countries.
