On 18 March 2019, H.E. Mr. Virasak Futrakul, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand attended the Launching Ceremony of the Project “Capacity Building for National Coordinators of Mekong - Lancang Cooperation (MLC)” under the MLC Special Fund at Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was one of the activities organised during the MLC Week to celebrate the 3^rd Anniversary of the Establishment of the MLC Cooperation Framework. Over 100 people comprising representatives from the public and private sectors, diplomatic corps and representatives from MLC member countries, as well as Thai and foreign media attended the event. 

 

        The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, together with H.E. Mr. Lyu Jian, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Thailand and H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag, Honorary Advisor to the Mekong Institute (MI) Council delivered the opening remarks and witnessed the signing of two Memoraundum of Understanding (MoU), namely; (1) Memorandum of Understanding on the Cooperation on Projects of the Mekong - Lancang Cooperation Special Fund between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Thailand, signed by H.E. Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and H.E. Mr. Lyu Jian, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Thailand and (2) Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Mekong Institute, signed by Mrs. Vilawan Mangklatanakul, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, and Dr. Watcharas Leelawath, Executive Director of the Mekong Institute.

 

       The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China also presided over the Exhibition entitled “Celebrating the progress made by Thailand and China under the MLC Framework.” Later in the afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Mekong Institute co-chaired the First Steering Committee Meeting of the Project. The meeting discussed ways and means to steer the project toward successful implementation in accordance with the set work plan. 

 

        The Project is the first one proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the MLC Special Fund. It aims to enhance the skills and capacities of MLC National Secretariat officials and coordinators of the member countries through trainings, workshops, study visits, as well as information sharing in order to work and coordinate in a more effective manner to advance the five priority areas of cooperation under the MLC, namely; connectivity, production capacity, water resources, cross border economic cooperation, agriculture and poverty reduction.

 

        Mekong-Lancang Cooperation originated from Thailand’s initiative in 2012. Formally established in March 2016 and comprising six member countries, namely; Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and China, the MLC aims to increase competitiveness, reduce income gaps, and promote sustainable growth and development in the Mekong sub-region.