Global Centre for Mekong Studies debuts

Cambodian Prince Norodom Sirivudh, Chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP), announced the launch of the GCMS during a ceremony attended by representatives of six top think tanks from LMC members.

The six top think tanks included CICP, the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), the Institute of Foreign Affairs of Laos, the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS), Thailand's Devawongse Varopakarm Institute of Foreign Affairs, and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV). 

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Zuo Wenxing, political counsellor of the Embassy of China in Cambodia, said that LMC is a new type of sub-regional cooperation and GCMS could assist LMC’s sustainable development academically.

Sok Siphana, an advisor of the Royal Government of Cambodia, said that LMC needs new ideas and support from all walks of life from the six LMC states in order to build stronger mutual trust, reduce developmental gap and promote synergy with other initiatives in this region.

Meanwhile, Rong Ying, CIIS's vice president and director of the GCMS-China Center, said GCMS is an open, shared and public platform for all participants.

GCMS will invite famous experts and related research institutions in this region and around the world, providing strong intellectual support for LMC by collecting strength from every aspect, he said.

LMC is the first sub-regional cooperation mechanism that includes all basin countries of Lancang-Mekong River - Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Since its formation in March 2016, the LMC has made steady progress with many specific cooperation programs that have been underway in the region.