Representatives of the six Lancang-Mekong countries gathered in Leshan, Sichuan to explore practical cooperation

China News Service, Leshan, Sichuan, November 10 (Shan Peng) The 2026 Lancang-Mekong River Local Government Cooperation Forum and Historical and Cultural Cities Dialogue was held in Leshan, Sichuan on the 10th. More than 200 guests from local governments, friendly organizations, universities, and enterprises from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam attended the meeting.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation leaders’ meeting. In the past ten years, the trade volume between China and the Mekong countries has exceeded US$500 billion, an increase of 150% compared with 10 years ago; a number of projects benefiting the people have been implemented one after another and have brought benefits to the people of the six countries.

Standing at a new starting point of the 10th anniversary, this forum, with the theme of "Continuing the Silk Road and Starting a New Journey for the Mekong-Lancang River", will discuss topics such as digital-intelligent transformation, integration of industry and education, mutual learning among civilizations, and sister-city cooperation. It aims to promote the local governments of the six Lancang-Mekong countries to deepen exchanges, expand pragmatic cooperation, and promote the common development of the river basin.

Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, expressed in his speech that he hopes that the local governments of the six countries will actively participate in the construction of Lancang-Mekong infrastructure connectivity, seize the opportunities of digitalization and greening, and promote cooperation in the fields of digital economy, smart cities, clean energy, etc. Jointly build the Lancang-Mekong economic development belt; expand practical cooperation in cross-border e-commerce, vocational education, disaster prevention and reduction, and implement more "small but beautiful" projects that benefit the people; welcome more cities in the six countries to join the Lancang-Mekong Friendship Cities "circle of friends" and build a dense local friendly cooperation network.

In an interview, Bui Yuanlong, Consul General of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Chongqing, said that he is very concerned about the issues of new energy and green transformation. Vietnam has close economic and trade exchanges with China, especially Sichuan, and Sichuan companies have invested in photovoltaic, hydropower and other clean energy projects in Vietnam. "Vietnam still has some problems in the fields of pollution control and ecological protection. We look forward to in-depth exchanges with relevant departments and enterprises in China and Sichuan to find solutions."

Hadu, Permanent State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Cambodia, believes that in order to further deepen cultural cooperation, Lancang-Mekong countries can strengthen cultural heritage protection and promote the sharing of knowledge and experience; rely on living cultural heritage and cultural and creative industries to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges; and expand partnerships between historical and cultural cities through cultural festivals, heritage tourism, cultural exchanges, and sharing of advanced experiences in sustainable urban development and heritage protection and management.