Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang (C) attends the 9th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on August 15, 2024.

The meeting, with the theme “Towards a safer, cleaner Mekong-Lancang community”, was attended by representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China, and Vietnam.

Deputy Minister Hang made several important proposals, emphasizing that a modern and developed Mekong-Lancang region must be built on the foundation of ensuring seamless trade, investment, and connectivity among the member countries.

Ms. Hang underlined the need to expand markets, strengthen sustainable supply chains, promote transport infrastructure connectivity, prioritize enhancing scientific and technological capabilities, and foster innovation by effectively implementing the Mekong-Lancang Innovation Corridor.

The Mekong-Lancang cooperation should continue to foster friendly neighbourly relations and deep ties among the people of the six countries, while promoting a people-centered approach.

Towards the 10th founding anniversary of the Mekong-Lancang cooperation mechanism in 2025, Vietnam proposed strengthening and further diversifying people-to-people and youth exchanges and connections between localities and businesses, and seeking new cooperation initiatives from the six countries’ young people.

The meeting issued a joint press communique and approved three new initiatives on enhancing cooperation in water resources management, building a clean environment, and combating cross-border crimes.