Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Sok Chenda Sophea has recently emphasised Cambodia’s efforts towards shared future of safer and sustainable Mekong-Lancang Region and shared several perspectives on the future direction of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC).
In his remarks at the Ninth MLC Foreign Ministers Meeting co-chaired by the People’s Republic of China and Thailand in Chiang Mai on Aug. 16, H.E. Sok Chenda Sophea laid stress on the importance of (1) continuing to intensify efforts to boost trade, investment, tourism, and green development in the region (2) further strengthening agricultural cooperation, particularly with the support of advanced technology and innovation (3) jointly tackling air pollution which poses threats not only to health but also to the region’s economy, food and water security, and climate and (4) making collaborative efforts to combat transboundary crimes among MLC countries, especially online scams, cybercrime, human traffi
cking, and other criminal activities.
The Cambodian top diplomat noted with satisfaction the remarkable development of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation over the past eight years, which has yielded great benefits for Mekong countries. He commended substantive outcomes resulting from the implementation of projects in the Mekong subregion under the MLC Special Fund since 2017 and looks forward to effectively implementing new projects allocated for Cambodia, while extending Cambodia’s deep gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for providing the MLC Fund, which has greatly contributed to economic development in the sub-region.
According to a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation made public this afternoon, the MLC Foreign Ministers highly appreciated the progress made on the implementation of the substantive outcomes of the Fourth MLC Leaders’ Meeting in December last year and the Five-Year Plan of Action on Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (2023-202
7). They agreed that the MLC mechanism must maintain the momentum of rapid development by deepening practical cooperation across the board, and jointly building a community with a shared future of peace and prosperity among Mekong-Lancang countries.
The Foreign Ministers encouraged complementarity between the MLC mechanism and other international and regional initiatives and cooperation strategies including China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration work plans to achieve the MLC vision of sustainable peace, development, and prosperity.
The meeting adopted four outcome documents: (1) Joint Press Communiqué of the Ninth Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers Meeting (2) Joint Statement on the Mekong-Lancang Clean Air Initiative (3) Joint Statement on Strengthening Cooperation in Combating Transboundary Crimes under the Mekong- Lancang Cooperation Framework and (4) Initiative on Deepening Lancang-
Mekong Water Resources Cooperation.
Ahead of the MLC meeting, Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sok Chenda Sophea held productive talks with H.E. WANG YI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. Both foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitments to further strengthening and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership, ironclad friendship and diamond cooperation between Cambodia and China for the interests of the two nations. Both sides shared the view that they need to address the issue of transboundary crimes, especially online scams, human trafficking, and telecommunications scams. H.E. WANG Yi congratulated Cambodia on the groundbreaking for the construction of the Funan Techo Canal earlier this month and re-affirmed China’s support for the project. The Deputy Prime Minister lauded the frequent high-level exchanges of visits between legislative and executive institutions of the two countries, as well as activities in Cambodia and China to celebrate the People-to-People Exchange Year
in 2024 to promote tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
The two Foreign Ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse