The Asian Vision Institute (AVI) organised at Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh on Oct. 9 the Official Book Launch Ceremony for ‘Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC): Towards Peace and Prosperity’ at the culmination of the Mekong-Lancang Peace Boat (MLPB) Project.
Funded by the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund 2022, this event marked the successful completion of the project’s two main components: a week-long training programme on a cruise ship in Cambodia for Mekong-Lancang country members and the publication of a policy-oriented research book, said AVI in a press release issued this afternoon.
The opening ceremony was presided over by H.E. Bundit Sapheacha Dr. SOK Siphana, Senior Minister in charge of Special Mission and Chairman Emeritus of AVI, H.E. MEAS Kim Heng, Secretary of State in charge of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia; H.E. WANG Wenbin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to
the Kingdom of Cambodia; and Dr CHHENG Kimlong, President of AVI and Project Director of MLPB. It also brought together 90 distinguished guests from various sectors, including government officials, embassy representatives, think tank members and university students.
According to AVI, the newly launched book serves as a roadmap for the region’s development, offering recommendations on addressing ongoing challenges and development needs of Mekong-Lancang countries. Covering crucial topics such as water governance, agricultural exports, economic partnerships, multilateralism and climate governance, the publication explores policies driving harmonious growth in the region. The book emphasises the twin goals of peace and prosperity, recognising their fundamental importance to the sustainable development and stability of the region.
Following the book launch, a panel discussion on “Mekong-Lancang Cooperation: Towards Peace and Prosperity” took place. Moderated by Mr. LIM Menghour, Director of the Mekong Centre fo
r Strategic Studies of AVI, the panel featured Dr. CHHENG Kimlong, President of AVI and Project Director of MLPB; Dr. LIU Zhanguo, Director of China Foundation for Peace and Development (CFPD) Cambodia Office; Dr. SEUN Sam, Policy Analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia and Dr. Khasy SRITHILAT, Deputy of Post-Graduate Division at the Faculty of Economics and Business Management of the National University of Laos. The panellists examined the role of multilateral cooperation in addressing regional challenges, exploring obstacles and proposing solutions for enhanced collaboration. The discussion highlighted the importance of multilateral frameworks in mitigating regional issues and their potential to foster stability and development.
The Official Book Launching Ceremony highlighted policy insights and regional collaboration, while the broader MLPB Project aims to deepen people-to-people ties and foster cultural understanding. By facilitating dialogue and enhancing expertise, these initiatives create a platform
for meaningful exchange, strengthening the foundation for a more interconnected community geared towards peace and prosperity.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse