Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the virtual third Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting on August 24 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) –Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the virtual third Mekong-Lancang Cooperation(MLC) Leaders’ Meeting on August 24, together with high-ranking leaders fromCambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and China.
Themed "EnhancingPartnership for Shared Prosperity", the meeting reviewed the MLC’srecent cooperation and discussed orientations to promote its collaboration inthe coming period.
Regarding the cooperation results, the leaders highlighted important progressmade since the second Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting such as progressin cooperation in Mekong River water management, including the organization ofthe first Ministerial Meeting of Lancang-MekongWater Resources Cooperation,and the initiation of cooperation between the MLC and the Mekong RiverCommission. More than 300 technical assistance projects have been implementedwith the support of the MLC Special Fund while the Mekong Research Centre andspecialised cooperation centres were established.
Regarding the future cooperation orientations, the leadersreaffirmed their determination to jointly build a MLC region of peace, stability,sustainable development and prosperity; and agreed to promote cooperation onthree specific pillars.
On security- politics, the countries agreed to maintain high-level exchanges; strengthendialogue between political parties, parliarments, governments and localities;and promote cooperation in solving non-traditional security issues and inpublic health to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and restore economic growth.The meeting welcomed China's proposal to establish the MLC Special Fund forpublic health to support the regional countries’ response to the pandemic and thehealth sector later.
In terms of economy and sustainable development, the MLC countries will promoteregional connectivity in both hard and soft infrastructure; facilitateinvestment trade and public-private cooperation; step up cooperation in ruraldevelopment and poverty reduction, development of digital economy and science-technology,management and sustainable use of water resources in the Mekong River, environmentand biodiversity protection.
Regardingculture - society and people-to-people exchange, they will implementeducational cooperation activities and training programmes to develophigh-quality human resources that meet market demand in the era of the fourth IndustrialRevolution; while promoting tourism cooperation and cultural exchange.
Theyalso agreed to make more effective use of the MLC Special Fund and improve thequality and practicality of the project, thereby bringing pragmatic benefits tothe people of the six countries.
The leaders spent much timediscussing cooperation in the management and use of water resources in theMekong River. They agreed that in the face of the increasingly serious impactsof climate change, riparian countries should further promote the sharing of hydrologicaldata of river basins, conduct joint research and policy dialogue, manage floodsand droughts, and closely coordinate with the Mekong River Commission.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said China is ready to share the year-roundhydrological data of the Lancang River, which is a section of the Mekong Riverflowing through the Chinese territory, and wishes to discuss the building of a channelsharing hydrological data between Mekong-Lancang countries and the implementationof joint cooperation projects on flood and natural disaster warning.
Speakingat the event, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highlighted the criteria that theMLC needs to ensure to successfully realise the set objectives for a MLC regionof peace, prosperity and sustainable development. They are cooperation on thebasis of trust, sincere, and frank and friendly relations; ensuring the principlesof equality, consensus, mutual benefit, and respect for international law; and takingpeople-centered and sustainable development as a consistent content.
He stressed the need to attach importance to finding solutions to common challengesand ensuring the legitimate interests of the member countries.
The MLC’s activities must be conducted on the basis of promoting the strengthsof the member countries, he said, adding that the regional countries shouldwork harmoniously with ASEAN and other Mekong cooperation mechanisms.
In thecontext of the region facing unprecedented challenges, the PM emphasised that theMLC should focus on cooperation to minimise the negative effects of the COVID-19and prevent disruptions in the supply chain, as well as to meet the productionand business needs of enterprises.
They need to share information on and experience in COVID-19 prevention andcontrol in a regular, timely and transparent manner; and promote cooperation invaccine production and facilitate vaccine access, Phuc said.
The country should also cooperate in the use and management of Mekong River waterresources and seek long-term solutions to the sustainable development of thebasin; share year-round hydrological information and data; strengthen thenetwork of automatic water resources monitoring stations; consolidate naturaldisaster forecasting and warning systems; and coordinate with the Mekong RiverCommission and international partners.
At theend of the meeting, the leaders of the six member countries adopted theVientiane Declaration and witnessed the transfer of the role of MLC co-chair fromLaos to Myanmar./.
VNA
