PHNOM PENH, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The second edition of the Lancang-Mekong Peace Boat program was officially launched in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Wednesday, aiming at strengthening regional dialogue, promoting mutual understanding, and advancing practical cooperation for the sustainable development of the Lancang-Mekong region.
Suos Yara, chairman of the Commission on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Information of Cambodia's National Assembly, said the project was implemented by the Asian Vision Institute (AVI), a Phnom Penh-based independent think tank.
"I am particularly pleased to see the participants from Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam on this journey together," Yara said at the launch event.
Attendees then embarked on a cruise along the Mekong River.
"Over the next seven days, this peace boat program offers a rare opportunity for learning, dialogue, cultural exchange and friendship among people from across the Mekong-Lancang region," he added.
Yara noted that the project is funded by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund, which has served as a strategic compass and engine of regional growth and development.
AVI's President Chheng Kimlong said the program unites participants from all six LMC countries across various professions, backgrounds and experiences.
"This second edition provides a dedicated platform where government officials, policymakers, researchers, scholars and young professionals can exchange ideas, learn from one another, and develop practical policy recommendations that contribute to regional peace, resilience and shared prosperity," he said.
Kimlong said that during the journey, participants will discuss critical regional themes. These include peace and security, small-state diplomacy, water resources governance, Southeast Asian foreign policy, digital diplomacy, economic integration, and disaster response. ■
