At the official invitation of Mr Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, the Co-Chair of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC), Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe attended the 8th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (8th MLC FMM) held on 7 December 2023 at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing, China.
The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, and U Than Swe, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar and attended by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr Sok Chenda Sophea, Member of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of the LPRP Mr Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Parnpree Bahiddha Nukara, and Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Bui Thanh Son.
The Ministers reviewed the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation’s progress and discussed the way forward. Moreover, they also exchanged views on the future direction of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation.
After the 8th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Mr Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, and U Than Swe, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, held the Joint Press Briefing on the 8th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and its outcomes.
The Co-Chair of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation, Mr Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, hosted a Dinner in honour of the Heads of Delegation of the MLC member countries and delegations to the 8th MLC FMM.
The Mekong–Lancang Cooperation (MLC) is the regional cooperation mechanism established in 2016 to strengthen the socio-economic development of the region further. Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam are members of the MLC. To date, the MLC Special Fund has provided funds for implementing 106 projects in Myanmar to support Myanmar’s National Sustainable Development Strategy, with a total value of US$31.6 million. — MNA
