MOFA congratulates Mekong-Lancang Cooperation members on anniversary

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith has congratulated Mekong-Lancang Cooperation member countries on marking their 3rd Anniversary of Establishment (March 23, 2016 – March 23, 2019).
The message from MOFA  reads: On behalf of the government of the Lao PDR, I would like to convey my heartfelt congratulations and salutations to all people of the Lao PDR and other MLC Member Countries. This year is also the 2nd year that the MLC Week is being launched in Vientiane.
The message continued: The MLC was established by six member countries, namely: Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam with an aim to bring prosperity and sustainable development to the Mekong Region.
MLC has become a platform for effective cooperation in the Mekong sub-region. It has significantly contributed to the socio-economic development of member countries under three cooperation pillars (political and security, economic and sustainable development, and social, cultural and people to people exchanges) and five key priority areas (connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources, and agriculture and poverty reduction). Currently, MLC member countries are implementing their Five-Year Plan of Action (2018-2022) with a view to enhancing the people well-being, narrowing the development gap as well as supporting Asean Community building.
In 2018, the Lao PDR had an honour and privilege to host the 4th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Luang Prabang.
The Meeting issued the Joint Press Communiqué as guidelines to deepen our friendship and partnership. Moreover, we are ready to take part in discussion on realizing the Mekong-Lancang Economic Development Belt Initiative as part of The Belt and Road Initiative in a community of shared future of peace and prosperity.
The Lao PDR, as the co-chair with the People’s Republic of China on Mekong-Lancang Cooperation for the period of 2018-2020, will continue to closely work with other member countries in order to move our cooperation forwards to a higher level. In this connection, the Lao PDR looks forwards enthusiastically to co-chairing the 5th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in China in 2019 and the 3rd MLC Leaders’ Meeting in the Lao PDR in 2020.
On this celebrative occasion, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all Mekong Countries and China for the continued support, generous assistance and constructive engagement in a consistent manner in accordance with the theme of the 3rd MLC Leaders’ Meeting “Enhancing Partnership for Shared Prosperity”.
The Lao PDR, in its capacity as co-chair, wishes that the cooperative relations between and among member countries be further strengthened and deepened. To promote people-to-people exchange and understanding between the people of the Mekong Region and China, this year has been designated as Visit Laos-China Year 2019.
On this occasion, we, the Lao multi-ethnic people, would like to extend our warmest welcome and hospitality to the Chinese people as well as to all the people from other Mekong countries to visit Laos and experience the culture and natural beauty of our country.         

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update March 22, 2019)