Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) was initiated by China in November 2014 and officially launched in March 2016, involving six countries along the Lancang-Mekong River, namely China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.

The regional cooperation model is based on the principles of consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, aiming to strengthen neighbourly friendship, practical cooperation, socio-economic development, and regional well-being. After 10 years of development, the MLC mechanism has achieved significant progress.

According to Dong Biyou, Consul General of China in Da Nang, the six Mekong-Lancang countries have adhered to the principles of prioritizing development, equal consultation, pragmatic effectiveness, and openness, working together to promote economic growth, regional peace and stability, and cultural exchanges.

Dong highlighted that Vietnam’s central region, with its strategic location and recent key development policies, presents vast cooperation potential with China. These policies include establishing the Da Nang Free Trade Zone, developing a regional financial centre, upgrading Thua Thien Hue to a centrally-run city, alongside accelerating administrative reforms.

With regard to security, she said, China’s Global Security Initiative has gained support from more than 100 countries and international organizations, including Vietnam.

China hopes Vietnam will enhance efforts to combat telecom fraud, online gambling, and transnational crime, while strengthening law enforcement cooperation, information-sharing, and crime prevention to create a safer environment for Chinese citizens visiting Vietnam, she said,

Regarding economic and trade cooperation, the diplomat expressed hope that Vietnam would facilitate investment and business operations for Chinese enterprises, allowing them to engage in construction projects and financial cooperation in central Vietnam.

“Amid global uncertainties, nations must strengthen solidarity and deepen cooperation to jointly address risks and challenges. Let us work together to promote comprehensive cooperation in all fields and make the Mekong - Lancang shared future community more substantive and sustainable,” she remarked.

According to speakers, economic and trade cooperation remains a key highlight of Vietnam-China relations, serving as a crucial driving force in advancing bilateral ties.

Currently, China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner, while Vietnam is China’s largest trading partner within ASEAN. Over the years, bilateral trade volume has consistently exceeded US$200 billion annually.

Nguyen Xuan Binh, director of the Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the fact that Da Nang’s strategic geographical location makes it one of the maritime gateways of the East-West Economic Corridor. This unique advantage positions the city as an emerging hub within the global supply and production network, benefiting from its connectivity to the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

To become a major socio-economic center of Vietnam, Da Nang has implemented numerous strategic policies, focusing on its role as a leading maritime economy and a logistics hub in central Vietnam. The city prioritizes the development of key industries, including tourism and hospitality; information technology, electronics, and telecommunications; the digital economy; semiconductor and microchip industries; and artificial intelligence applications.

These initiatives aim to turn Da Nang into a major economic hub in Vietnam and Southeast Asia by 2030 and a smart, sustainable, and innovation-driven Asian city by 2045, Binh stated.

In 2025, the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) will mark its 10th anniversary, with its overarching mission to promote socio-economic growth among Mekong-Lancang nations; deliver tangible benefits to citizens; bridge development gaps among regional countries; support ASEAN community-building; and advance the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Expressing optimism about the future of the MLC, Binh emphasized that with commitment and collaboration from all stakeholders, the initiative would continue to yield substantial benefits for people across the region.

“With the crucial role of the Chinese Consulate General in Da Nang, we hope to strengthen business and investment connections, and foster mutually beneficial partnerships. This will further enhance the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, thereby bringing prosperity to both countries and contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region,” stated the official.

Vietnam puts forth proposals at 9th Mekong – Lancang Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang affirmed Vietnam's strong commitment to and effective contributions to the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) at the 9th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on August 16, which saw the participation of representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam.