Vietnam proposes major priority areas of Mekong – Lancang cooperation
VOV.VN - Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son put forward major priority areas of Mekong –Lancang cooperation (MLC) at the seventh MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in China on December 7.
Addressing the meeting, Son affirmed that Vietnam values and continues to actively contribute to cooperation among the six MLC countries - Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam.
He said the six MLC countries need to develop foundation industries; gradually transition from processing and assembly to research, design and production; and promote innovation, technology application and transfer.
The countries also need to promote digital transformation through policy dialogue on digital economy and cybersecurity; develop digital human resources and smart cities; digitalize micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and encourage the construction of digital infrastructure and application of new generation technology in the manufacturing industry.
He underscored the need to stick to environmental protection and green growth transformation; and accelerate the completion and implementation of the MLC Water Resources Cooperation Action Plan for 2023-2027. He proposed strengthening coordination between MLC and the Mekong River Commission as well as sharing meteorological, hydrological and dam operation data.
In addition, the minister called on the countries to enhance trade cooperation; build smart supply chains; support connections between MSMEs and multinational corporations; and reform the investment environment.
The ministers at the conference highly appreciated the progress achieved in cooperation in sustainable management of water resources of the Lancang-Mekong River, including the implementation of an agreement between the six countries on sharing hydrological data for the whole year, as well as research on flood forecasting and natural disaster prevention.
The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund has supported member countries in implementing more than 700 projects in various fields, such as trade, agriculture, tourism, water resource management, the environment, health, poverty reduction, and women empowerment.
The ministers agreed to consider establishing the Lancang-Mekong Innovation Corridor and developing the Lancang-Mekong Economic Belt; enhance the application of high technology in economic development; rev up infrastructure connectivity; facilitate trade and investment; and support clean energy transition, and green growth.
The parties affirmed to continue to prioritize cooperation in water resource management of the Lancang - Mekong River; accelerate the completion of the MLC Water Resources Cooperation Action Plan for 2023-2027; and support Vietnam’s bid to play host to the MLC Ministerial Meeting on Water Resources for the second time in 2024.
The Mekong River has a total length of 4,350 km, flowing through six countries - China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The section flowing through the Chinese territory is called Lancang.
The Mekong – Lancang Cooperation mechanism was formed in November 2015, focusing on connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources, agriculture and poverty reduction.
