On 3 November 2023, Ms. Pinsuda Jayanama, Ambassador for Mekong Cooperation and Thailand’s Mekong SOM leader attended the 10th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Senior Officials’ Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Nong Rong, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and Ms. Marlar Than Htaik, Director-General International Organizations and Economic Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar.

The Meeting welcomed the progress of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) since the 7th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in July 2022, in the three pillars and five priority areas as well other areas of cooperation such as environment, science, technology and innovation. The SOM Leaders discussed future direction of MLC and agreed to further deepen cooperation in connectivity, trade, investment, digital economy, green economy and tourism as well as in addressing challenges from non-traditional security issues, particularly online gambling and call center scam with the view to promote economic development and security of the sub-region. The Meeting also concurred to enhance information sharing on water resources management to ensure food and energy security of the Mekong sub-region and discussed preparation of the 8th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled at the end of 2023.

The MLC was established in 2016 at the First MLC Leaders’ Meeting from Thailand’s initiative, comprising six member countries; namely, Thailand, China, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam. In this regard, Myanmar will pass the MLC Co-chairmanship with China to Thailand at the 4th MLC Leaders’ Meeting.