On 23 March 2023, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, in cooperation with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Bangkok, co-organised the Launching Ceremony of Thailand’s projects funded by the Mekong - Lancang Cooperation Special Fund (MLCSF) in 2022 during the Mekong - Lancang Cooperation Week 2023 (MLC Week) at Vites Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Attended on-site are approximately 80 representatives from the Embassies of MLC Member Countries in Bangkok, ministerial-level proponent agencies and implementing agencies from the public and academic sectors. The event was also broadcasted live on the Ministry’s Facebook page.

18 Thai-led projects under the supervision of 7 agencies were officially approved to receive financial support from the MLC Special Fund in 2022, with the total amount of 4.016 million US dollars:
(1) 8 projects by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation;
(2) 2 projects by the Ministry of Public Health;
(3) 2 projects by the Ministry of Industry;
(4) 2 projects by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;
(5) 1 project by the Ministry of Interior;
(6) 1 project by the Ministry of Education; and
(7) 2 projects by the Office of the National Water Resources.

All of these projects are aimed at improving the livelihood of the Thai people and the people in the Mekong sub-region, promoting sustainable development, agriculture and food safety, as well as accelerating economic recovery after COVID-19 pandemic and enhancing environmental protection in the sub-region.

During the Launching Ceremony, H.E. Mr. Chairat Sirivat, Ambassador Attached to the Ministry, and Thailand’s Mekong SOM Leader, delivered the welcoming remarks. H.E. Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Han Zhiqiang, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Thailand, gave their opening remarks, and launched Thailand’s projects together, witnessed by representatives from 7 Thai agencies. The event was then followed by a brief introduction on the projects by the representatives of the Thai agencies.

The Thai side praised the efficient and quality advancement of the MLC for the benefit of the people in the Mekong sub-region, and reaffirmed its commitment to moving forward the MLC cooperation in synergy and complementarity with other sub-regional cooperation frameworks, particularly since Thailand is set to take over the Co-chairmanship of MLC with China from Myanmar later this year.

The establishment of MLC was first initiated by Thailand in 2012 with a view to promoting sustainable development and narrowing development gaps in the Mekong - Lancang sub-region. MLC has six Member Countries, namely Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam. The First annual MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the First biennial MLC Summit were held in November 2015 and March 2016, respectively.