Foreign ministers of the MLC countries pose for a photo at the meeting in China’s Chongqing city on June 8 (Source: VNA) The Thai Foreign Ministry said in a statementthat at this event, Pramudwinai said he attaches importance to strengtheningthe Mekong - Lancang cooperation.
He urged closer cooperation in access to andproduction of vaccines, post-COVID economic recovery through bio-circular-green(BCG) economic growth model, digital economy, and water resources managementfor the sub-region to re-emerge safer, greener, and smarter.
In terms of public health, the Thai officialstressed the equitable access to vaccines by all while to boost post-COVID-19recovery, he suggested enhancing cooperation on BCG, which is an economic modelthat is innovation-driven, value-creating, and environmentally friendly.
As Thailand’s national agenda, BCG focuses onfour major industries, including food and agriculture, energy and materials,health and medicine, and tourism and services. They are also the industries inwhich MLC member countries have comparative advantages, he noted.
Another approach is to promote linkages betweenthe special economic zones in border areas and development of innovationcorridors to support special economic zones and BCG industries, he said, addingthat this includes the promotion of digital transformation to help buildcapacity and resilience for the MLC government agencies and businesses to copewith the new normal environment in a sustainable manner.
Emphasising the importance of water resources onthe livelihoods of people living along the Mekong River, the official urged allMLC countries to redouble the efforts to promote practical cooperation andsustainable management of trans-boundary waters.
He underlined that MLC member countries shouldenhance collaboration in information sharing and early warning system on waterlevel changes so that the people downstream could make necessary preparationsin time to cope with the consequences.
Such cooperation will help strengthen the mutualtrust and confidence among the MLC family and garner public support for the MLC,Pramudwinai remarked.
The establishment of the Mekong - LancangCooperation was suggested by Thailand in 2012 with a view to promotingsustainable development and narrowing the development gap in the Mekong -Lancang sub-region.
The MLC countries consist of Cambodia, Laos,Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and China./.
VNA
