Vietnam proposes solutions to foster Mekong-Lancang cooperation

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son made the remarks when attending the 7th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held Monday in Myanmar.

Son said Vietnam always attaches importance to the MLC and is willing to make effective contributions to strengthen cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

He highlighted that China and countries in the Mekong sub-region should guarantee the MLC gives priority to economic growth and sustainable development so that the people will benefit.

For that goal to be achieved, the Vietnamese minister proposed four groups of solutions:

He emphasized the need to speed up economic recovery, enhance the economy’s resilience, and strengthen customs cooperation and trade facilitation in order to address goods congestion and ensure the circulation of goods and services.

He suggested supporting member countries in adapting to climate change and transitioning to a green economic model, including improving clean energy production and storage capacity and applying high technology to smart agriculture and climate change response.

He proposed stronger cooperation in managing and using water resources in a sustainable manner, especially through the sped-up development of an MLC action plan for water resources collaboration in the 2023-2027 period.

At the same time, he said it is necessary to encourage the expansion of consultations and dialogues among member countries on the water resources development plan while increasing coordination between the MLC and Mekong River Commission, and enhancing people-to-people contact through recovering and expanding tourism activities as well as cooperation among local administrations, the organization of culture, sports, and communications events, and the empowerment of women and youngsters.

Vietnam’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) and his counterparts from China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar at the 7th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Myanmar on July 4, 2022. Photo by the Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Founded in 2016, the MLC consists of six member countries: China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The Mekong flows through all. In China, it is called Lancang.

The 7th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting saw the six ministers concur that the MLC framework is of great importance for the Mekong sub-region, and thereby expressed firm commitment to uphold solidarity in pursuit of common goals that would benefit their peoples.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Son also met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, during which both sides highly valued the progress of Vietnam-China relations over the years with regular high-level meetings and a stably growing trade partnership.

Son said Vietnam wishes China to continue creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese products, especially seafood, to be transited in China and enter a third country later, as well as to boost the development of traffic infrastructure along the border to facilitate travel for businesses from both nations.

Wang said China highly values Vietnam’s role in the global supply chain and wishes to cooperate with Vietnam in commerce and investment to guarantee the stability of that chain.