Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC); It consists of 6 member countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and China. This cooperation aims to develop a framework for collaboration in the Mekong economic region by promoting sustainable development, reducing inequalities among the regional countries, and supporting the ASEAN development process.[i] The LMC also holds strategic importance in terms of water security. Since water is a fundamental necessity for humanity, it can lead to both cooperation and conflicts between countries. Through the LMC, people living in the region have gained greater access to clean drinking water.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Myanmar and went to Thailand between 14-17 August 2024 to co-chair the 9th LMC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and participate in meetings between the Foreign Ministers of China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Regarding Wang’s visit to Myanmar, the Spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the visit aims to deepen mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in various fields, strengthen the close bonds of friendship between the two peoples, and advance the building of a China-Myanmar community with a shared future.
The spokesperson further explained that, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of China and the Mekong countries, they are building a community with a shared future alongside China. China. He also added that they hope to plan the next steps to advance the LMC, making the Lancang-Mekong region an example of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, a pioneer in implementing the Global Development and Security Initiative, and a leader for the Global Civilization Initiative.[ii]
Since the establishment of the LMC in 2016, six countries have formed consensus and worked together for common development with an understanding of mutual benefit. Connectivity projects such as the China-Laos Railway, China-Thailand Railway, and Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport have boosted regional trade and cross-border travel, doubling the annual trade volume between China and the Mekong countries.
The LMC Special Fund has brought tangible benefits to the people of these countries by supporting hundreds of livelihood cooperation projects, including the LMC Bumper Harvest Projects, Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Action and the Green Lancang-Mekong Initiative.[iii]
The LMC is an important component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as well as an important sub-regional cooperation mechanism between China and ASEAN. The LMC focuses on five priority areas of cooperation among member countries: connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources management, agriculture and poverty reduction. LMC has deepened good neighborliness, friendship and pragmatic cooperation among the six member countries; It has promoted the economic and social development of six member countries and contributed to the creation of the Lancang-Mekong Basin economic development region. The LMC acts as a driving force leading the cooperation among its member countries.[iv]
In the region, numerous major cooperation programs or projects have been developed, such as the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor, the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, the China-Laos Border Economic Cooperation Zone, the China-Vietnam Border Economic Cooperation Zone, and the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone in Cambodia.[v]
Countries such as America and Japan, as well as South Korea, India and Australia are also interested in the Mekong region. At the Mekong-U.S. Partnership Senior Officials’ Meeting held on June 9, key agendas were discussed, including the progress and future direction of the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, as well as the 2024-2026 Mekong-U.S. Partnership Action Plan.[vi]
When evaluated in the context of China’s development of dialogue with the countries around it, the U.S. engaging with a region outside its borders and formulating an action plan evokes the idea that it is acting in line with its China containment policy. The US is also accelerating its political relations with the countries of the Mekong region in order to contain China, which is a pioneer in the formation of the multipolar world order and whose economic power is gradually increasing.
As a result, the goals of the countries sharing the Mekong River to share a common future are largely in favor of reducing the development gap between countries in the region in the context of economic and social development. Additionally, by supporting ASEAN, the intention is to advance cooperation with the Global South. Through regional cooperation, stronger inter-state dialogues and trust have been built. This is because, in today’s world, competition between countries arises from conflicts of interest due to water resources or economic inequalities. The LMC has played a critical role by both enhancing the effectiveness of the countries in the region that share a common water source and aiming to bring them to the same level of prosperity.
[i] “Mekong-Lancang Cooperation” Bank of Thailand, https://www.bot.or.th/en/our-roles/international-cooperation/regionalfora/mekonglancang.html, (Date Accessed: 15.08.2024).
[ii] “Chinese FM to visit Myanmar, travel to Thailand to co-chair 9th LMC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, attend Informal Discussion between Foreign Ministers of China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand”, Xinhua News, https://english.news.cn/20240813/f31f23463c714ff6be663e2ab5a129ad/c.html, (Date Accessed: 13.08.2024).
[iii] “Lancang-Mekong Cooperation: So far”, China Daily, https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202404/07/WS6611fba4a31082fc043c080a.html, (Date Accessed: 15.08.2024).
[iv] “Lancang-Mekong Cooperation promotes regional development”, CGTN.com, https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d774e304d444e7a457a6333566d54/share_p.html, (Date Accessed: 15.08.2024).
[v] Ibid.
[vi] “Strenghtening Mekong-US Partnership together with Friends of Mekong for sustainable regional development” Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, https://www.mfaic.gov.kh/posts/2024-06-09-News-Strengthening-Mekong-US-Partnership-together-with-Friends-of-Mekong-for-sustainable-regional-develop-12-15-35, (Date Accessed: 16.08.2024).
