The leaders of the six nations in the Mekong Sub-region have expressed their commitment to further building stronger cooperation for shared future of peace and prosperity in the region. The leaders include Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, H.E. Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administration Council of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, H.E. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, H.E. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, and H.E. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. According to the press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation AKP received this morning, during the Fourth Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Leaders' Meeting held via videoconference on Dec. 25 under the theme “Join Hands on the Building of a Community of Shared Future and Modernisation among Meko ng-Lancang Countries,” the leaders expressed satisfaction with notable progress under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation framework. They highly praised its remarkable achievements over the last seven years that brought tangible outcomes and benefits across multiple sectors by effectively implementing the 5-Year Plan of Action on MLC (2018-2022). They also appreciated the MLC Special Fund, which has supported over 700 projects in water management, agriculture, capacity building, poverty reduction, health, women empowerment, culture, religion and other fields initiated by the six countries. The leaders welcomed the approved projects by the MLC Special Fund in 2023 and called for more efficient implementation of these projects to better serve economic and social development and help improve people's livelihoods in the six countries. The leaders expressed strong commitment to building a better community of peace and prosperity among Mekong-Lancang countries in the face of rapid accelerating global changes and unpre cedented challenges. They reaffirmed their commitment to working together to address common challenges and agreed to advance a people centered Lancang-Mekong Economic Development Belt by leveraging opportunities from scientific, technological and industrial advances to boost economic recovery. They also expressed their determination to continue to enhance mutual trust and respect, synergise national development strategies, and work together to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development in the Mekong-Lancang region. During the meeting, Samdech Thipadei expressed his satisfaction with the significant progress made under the MLC framework, especially the substantial outcomes of 89 projects in Cambodia under the MLC Special Fund since 2017. On future directions, he underscored the importance of building a closer community with a shared future among MLC countries by supporting the people-centered Economic Development Belt, and strengthening sub-regional supply chains and linkages to global value chain s through enhancing regional connectivity and industrial cooperation as well as bolstering the digital economy in cross-border economic cooperation and the long-term competitiveness of the region. The meeting concluded with the adoption of three documents crucial for further development in the MLC region: (1) the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration of the Fourth Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders' Meeting, (2) the Five-Year Plan of Action on MLC (2023- 2027), and (3) the Joint Initiatives on the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Innovation Corridor Development. During the meeting, Samdech Thipadei conveyed his heartfelt condolences to H.E. Premier Li Qiang, the Government and people of China, and bereaved families for the loss of loved ones and damage caused by the recent earthquake in Gansu province. He also conveyed his heartfelt congratulations on the forthcoming 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and extended his best wishes to all MLC Leaders and peoples of the Mekong-Lancang region for a Happy New Year in 2024. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse