The ceremony to launch new projects to be implemented in Myanmar under the second the Mekong-Lancang cooperation under the Special Fund was held in the meeting hall of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
In his opening remarks at the ceremony, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Aung Thu said that the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation projects would be conducted with the aim of reducing the development gap, assisting the establishment of the ASEAN community, achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN, boosting the cooperation among the developing countries in addition to enhancing socio-economic development of the people in the rural area and prosperity of the farmers.
Then Ambassador of the People’s Rof China Mr. Chen Hai explained about work plans for Mekong-Lancang Cooperation projects between the governments’ of Myanmar and China. Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Daw Marlar Than Htike explained about the diplomatic relationship with PRC.
Then Director-General of the Agriculture Department Dr. Ye Tint Tun explained about the implementation of five projects under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund (the first phase.
Next, Director-General of the department of Planning U Kyaw Swe Lin explained about twelve projects under second phase of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund.
Afterwards, Union Projects Minister Dr Aung Thu presented commemorative gifts to the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China at the event. Following the ceremony, the union minister and invited guests observed the displays for schemes arranged by the departments.
The Mekong-Lancang Cooperation is a type of cooperation mechanism among five Mekong-Lancang countries comprised of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam together with China and which aimed at promoting cooperation in the areas of political, security, economic and social development. The Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund of 300 million U.S dollars was established by the China with a view to carrying out the development schemes, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation is conducting the agriculture and poverty reduction schemes as a focal ministry.
In terms of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation fund (the second batch), a total of 23 proposals had been made to implement in the sectors of agriculture, livestock and rural development projects, and 12 proposed schemes had been selected to be carried out. The departments under the ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation will be implemented five priority areas, namely; connectivity, production capacity cooperation, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources, and agriculture and poverty reduction. —MNA
(Translated by Win Ko Ko Aung)
