Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (first from left) (Source: VNA) Yunnan (VNA) – The third Foreign Ministers’Meeting on Mekong – Lancang Cooperation (MLC) took place in Dali, the southwestChina’s Yunnan province on December 15, with the attendance of foreignministers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh highlighted Vietnam’s active and effectivecontributions to building the MLC working mechanism and proposing practicalideas for cooperation.
He acknowledged the MLC’s prominent outcomes in the past twoyears, hailing China’s role and the proactive engagement of Mekong countries.
He suggested that MLC should focus on enhancing sustainablemanagement and use of Mekong River water resources to balance interests andresponsibility of countries along the river.
Collaboration between MLC and the Mekong River Commissionwill better meet countries’ demand in data sharing, joint research andmanagement capacity improvement, he said.
The Deputy PM reiterated Vietnam’s proposal to establish ahotline among MLC member countries to deal with emergency situation in MekongRiver, the first of its kind for the six countries sharing the Mekong river.
Minh also called for enhancing joint work to develop acompetitive agricultural sector that is resilient to climate change and able toengage in regional and global value chains by upgrading regional transportinfrastructure and improving human resources training to meet demand amid thefourth industrial revolution.
Participants reviewed the implementation of outcomes of thefirst and second meetings and discussed measures to promote regionalsustainable development.
Over the past two years, MLC member countries have completedmany early-harvest projects, established a secretariat/ national coordinatingcentre in each country and the MLC Special Fund.
Youth exchanges, cultural and tourism cooperation held inthe framework have raised mutual understanding and friendship among peoples.
The ministers agreed that MLC should do more to help narrowdevelopment gap and support the building of ASEAN Community. They approved thelist of projects eligible for financial assistance provided by MLC SpecialFund.
In preparation for the second MLC Summit slated for January10 - 11, 2018 in Cambodia, the ministers agreed on contents of severaldocuments for submission to MLC leaders, including the MLC Action Plan for2018-2022 and the list of MLC projects, second stage.
The same day, Deputy PM Minh held talks with Chinese ForeignMinister Wang Yi on the occasion.
The Deputy PM Minh asked China to take effective measures tofurther boost bilateral economic-trade ties and ease Vietnam’s trade deficit,invest in projects using advanced and eco-friendly technology, as well asextend mutually-beneficial collaboration in agriculture, environment, climatechange response and science-technology.
On issues at sea, he took note of recent progress in negotiationson the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China. He urgedASEAN and China to soon discuss practical contents of the COC while continuing withfull and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Partiesin the East Sea (DOC) and building trust, contributing to maintaining peace,stability and security in the East Sea.
The two sides vowed to facilitate high-level visits anddirect ministries, agencies and localities to effective implement existing agreementsand common perceptions reached by high-ranking leaders.
Also on the day, the Vietnamese Deputy PM attended theinaugural of a photo exhibition on MLC achievements and the official website ofthe MLC Secretariat.-VNA
Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh highlighted Vietnam’s active and effectivecontributions to building the MLC working mechanism and proposing practicalideas for cooperation.
He acknowledged the MLC’s prominent outcomes in the past twoyears, hailing China’s role and the proactive engagement of Mekong countries.
He suggested that MLC should focus on enhancing sustainablemanagement and use of Mekong River water resources to balance interests andresponsibility of countries along the river.
Collaboration between MLC and the Mekong River Commissionwill better meet countries’ demand in data sharing, joint research andmanagement capacity improvement, he said.
The Deputy PM reiterated Vietnam’s proposal to establish ahotline among MLC member countries to deal with emergency situation in MekongRiver, the first of its kind for the six countries sharing the Mekong river.
Minh also called for enhancing joint work to develop acompetitive agricultural sector that is resilient to climate change and able toengage in regional and global value chains by upgrading regional transportinfrastructure and improving human resources training to meet demand amid thefourth industrial revolution.
Participants reviewed the implementation of outcomes of thefirst and second meetings and discussed measures to promote regionalsustainable development.
Over the past two years, MLC member countries have completedmany early-harvest projects, established a secretariat/ national coordinatingcentre in each country and the MLC Special Fund.
Youth exchanges, cultural and tourism cooperation held inthe framework have raised mutual understanding and friendship among peoples.
The ministers agreed that MLC should do more to help narrowdevelopment gap and support the building of ASEAN Community. They approved thelist of projects eligible for financial assistance provided by MLC SpecialFund.
In preparation for the second MLC Summit slated for January10 - 11, 2018 in Cambodia, the ministers agreed on contents of severaldocuments for submission to MLC leaders, including the MLC Action Plan for2018-2022 and the list of MLC projects, second stage.
The same day, Deputy PM Minh held talks with Chinese ForeignMinister Wang Yi on the occasion.
The Deputy PM Minh asked China to take effective measures tofurther boost bilateral economic-trade ties and ease Vietnam’s trade deficit,invest in projects using advanced and eco-friendly technology, as well asextend mutually-beneficial collaboration in agriculture, environment, climatechange response and science-technology.
On issues at sea, he took note of recent progress in negotiationson the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China. He urgedASEAN and China to soon discuss practical contents of the COC while continuing withfull and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Partiesin the East Sea (DOC) and building trust, contributing to maintaining peace,stability and security in the East Sea.
The two sides vowed to facilitate high-level visits anddirect ministries, agencies and localities to effective implement existing agreementsand common perceptions reached by high-ranking leaders.
Also on the day, the Vietnamese Deputy PM attended theinaugural of a photo exhibition on MLC achievements and the official website ofthe MLC Secretariat.-VNA
VNA
