On behalf of the Royal Thai Government, I wish to express my congratulations to the People’s Republic of China, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Mekong - Lancang Cooperation (MLC).

Since its inception in 2016, the MLC has played an important role in promoting cooperation in the key areas of connectivity, production capacity, water resources, cross-border economic development, agriculture and poverty reduction, yielding substantial benefits to the people in the Mekong sub-region. It is noteworthy to mention among other successes that cooperation on water resources was elevated to the ministerial level in 2019 and China has committed to sharing year-round hydrological data with MLC member states. These developments demonstrated MLC member states’ strong political will to further enhance transboundary water governance in the Mekong - Lancang River Basin.

Currently, the world faces unprecedented challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic which severely affects socio-economic development and the livelihood of the people in the Mekong sub-region and the rest of the world. The COVID-19 pandemic confirms yet again the notion that no country can tackle transboundary challenges alone. Collective efforts and collaboration are of vital importance to the prevention and control of the outbreak, as well as post-COVID-19 recovery. MLC member states therefore need to work even more closely together to ensure that we build back the Mekong - Lancang sub-region better, greener and smarter, and that no one is left behind in the New Normal environment.

Finally, I wish to commend all our partners and MLC member states for their continued efforts to advance the cause of the MLC. I firmly believe that, with our coordinated cooperation, the MLC will continue to grow stronger and contribute towards greater Mekong prosperity and sustainability in the years to come. Thailand the refore stands ready to work with all partners, parties and stakeholders for the mutual benefit of MLC member states, their peoples and beyond.