Cambodia

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Bra Sokun recently issued a message to congratulate the launch of the Lanmei Week in 2019. He said that on March 23, 2016, the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting was held in Sanya, Hainan. Cambodia is honored to work with the other five Lancang-Mekong countries to jointly build a "community with a shared future for the Lancang-Mekong countries facing peace and prosperity". All parties believe that the mechanism will continue to achieve new successes under the consensus of high-level countries. In 2018, the Phnom Penh Declaration and the Five-Year Plan of Action for Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (2018-2022) adopted at the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders’ Summit held in Phnom Penh once again helped the Lancang-Mekong cooperation move from an incubation period to a growth period. , Drew a clear path.

    Brasokun believes that the Mekong countries are members of the ASEAN family and are also considered to be one of the world's economic growth centers. Relying on an open regional integration policy and a firm multilateralist policy, regional countries can accelerate the shortening of the development gap between each other and jointly build a strong ASEAN. Therefore, the Lancang-Mekong cooperation mechanism is also a useful part of the China-ASEAN cooperation framework.

    Brasokun praised that in just a few years, the Lancang-Mekong cooperation has promoted various mechanisms to implement the consensus reached by leaders of various countries. Countries have established joint working groups in multiple priority areas, and established important research institutions such as the Water Resources Cooperation Center, the Environmental Cooperation Center, and the Global Mekong Research Center. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia has also established the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Cambodia Secretariat to coordinate internal communication with other domestic departments.

    At the 4th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in December 2018, all parties agreed to start discussing the establishment of an economic development belt in the Lancang-Mekong River basin to enhance cooperation in production capacity between each other. Brasokun expressed that Cambodia is very grateful to China for the five-year US$300 million Lancang-Mekong cooperation special fund, which is being used to support small and medium-sized cooperation projects. He believes that the implementation of these projects will bring tangible benefits to the people in the region. Currently, Cambodia has used approximately US$14 million to initiate 35 projects including knowledge and experience sharing, cultural exchanges and independent research.

    Brasokun said that Cambodia is very honored to have played an active role at the very beginning of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation mechanism. Cambodia also believes that the initiative will have an important impact on Cambodia and the countries in the Mekong River basin that are working to consolidate peace, sustainable development and common prosperity.

    The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation is a new sub-regional cooperation platform jointly initiated and established by six countries in the Lancang and Mekong basins, including China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. In March 2016, the first leaders' meeting of Lancang-Mekong cooperation was held in Sanya, Hainan, China, proclaiming the birth of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation mechanism. In January 2018, the second leaders' meeting of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. At this meeting, the week of March 23 (the day when the first leaders' meeting is held) is designated as the "Lanmei Week", and various exchange activities are held.