Cambodia will continue to promote the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) as one of the most relevant sub-regional platforms to support multilateralism so to realise the Leaders’ vision of building a Community of Shared Future of Peace and Prosperity.
The commitment was underscored by H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia in a message on the Celebration of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Week 2023, released on Mar. 21.
As the world is recovering from the global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to face with ongoing uncertainties, the Mekong-Lancang countries have deepened our cooperation to combat these challenges to ensure that our region remains safe and open, he said.
Over the past seven years, he continued, driven by our close collaboration among the MLC countries and underpinned by our common aspirations to promote peace, stability, and a shared future of prosperity, our mechanism remains progressive across all developmental spectrum marked by a strong focus on building our resilience through sustainable growth.
“As we begin to implement the new MLC Plan of Action (2023-2027), we will focus on the prioritised development areas, building on the substantial achievements of the previous plan. I am pleased with the outcomes of the 7th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held last year in Bagan, Myanmar, which has demonstrated the true spirit of good cooperation to advance our sub-regional integration,” H.E. Prak Sokhonn underlined.
Moreso, the Cambodian top diplomat said, the positive results of projects implemented under the MLC Special Fund have also responded to the practical development needs of our people in the MLC region. For its part, Cambodia has benefited from 80 Special Fund projects amounting to US$31 million. The diverse range of cooperation activities covers from the fields of rural development, poverty alleviation, water resources, agriculture, air connectivity, health, education, tourism, cultural heritage preservation to women’s empowerment, among many others.
“I take this opportunity to express our appreciation to People’s Republic of China for its strong commitment and active engagement in advancing the MLC framework to ensure the success of the initiative till the present day,” he added. “I look forward to seeing the evolution of the MLC framework in transforming this Mekong-Lancang sub-regional mechanism, not only to complement the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiatives, but also to support the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as well as to ensure the realisation of the Mekong-Lancang Economic Development Belts in synergy with the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.”
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse