VIENTIANE, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Lancang-Mekong week was held in Laos to promote unity and prosperity in the sub-region, marking the eighth anniversary of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC).
Laos' Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a seminar titled "Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Framework" in the Lao capital Vientiane on Friday, to celebrate the eighth anniversary of the establishment of the LMC framework.
Somboun Sihanath, director general of economic affairs department under the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs and LMC senior officials' meeting leader of Laos, said since its inception in 2016, the LMC has been a vital platform for fostering peace, stability and prosperity in the sub-region, guided by principles of equality, mutual benefits and shared prosperity, in the spirit of Shared River, Shared Future.
Eight years on, the sub-region has witnessed significant progress across three pillars of cooperation and five priority areas of cooperation, he added.
Somboun told Xinhua that the LMC has been a catalyst for tangible benefits in Laos and the Mekong sub-region.
"Laos has received a total of 80 approved projects under the LMC Special Fund with a total value of approximately 21 million U.S. dollars," he said.
He added that the LMC's role in promoting peace, stability and comprehensive development aligns with the vision of a prosperous and interconnected Lancang-Mekong community as well as contributes to the ASEAN Community building, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
China, as a development partner country, has led the implementation of outcomes of the LMC leaders' meeting, and five-year plans of action on the LMC, he said.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith said Laos has actively participated in LMC activities, obtaining concrete benefits through various projects and initiatives, namely, the Laos-China joint poverty alleviation project and other initiatives aimed at infrastructure development and capacity building.
Moreover, projects under the LMC Special Fund have supported training opportunities and various development initiatives, contributing to socio-economic progress, he said.
"I highly appreciate the government of China for its continued cooperation and contribution to the LMC, particularly through the LMC Special Fund and various sub-regional programs that have brought tangible benefits to the people in the Mekong sub-region," he said. ■
