On 7 December 2023, H.E. Mr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the 8th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, and H.E. U Than Swe, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar and attended by the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia and Vietnam and the representative of the Foreign Minister of the Lao PDR.

The Meeting reviewed the progress of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) and exchanged views on the future direction of the MLC as well as discussed preparations for the 4th MLC Leaders’ Meeting, which China proposed to convene the meeting in December 2023 and during which Thailand will take over the MLC Co-chairmanship from Myanmar with China.
 
The Meeting agreed to expedite infrastructure connectivity and cooperation in economic, digital transformation, tourism, science and technology as well as address non-traditional security challenges, particularly telecom and online frauds, human trafficking, climate change, food and energy security and water resources management.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister proposed the concept of “Three Futures” as follows: (1) Advance the “Future” of Connectivity, especially through the Landbridge Project and the seamless connectivity between the Thailand-China Railway and the China-Laos Railway, as well as digital, trade and investment connectivity (2) Build a better “Future” by addressing new and emerging challenges, especially non-traditional security and climate change and (3) Drive ‘Future’ growth engines, through enhanced cooperation on science, technology and innovation under the “MLC Innovation Corridor” development initiated by Thailand, green economy and tourism.

The Deputy Prime Minister also underscored the need to foster synergy between the MLC and Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), which was initiated by Thailand and of which China is a Development Partner.

The Meeting agreed to submit three draft documents to the MLC Leaders’ Meeting for adoption; namely, (1) Nay Pyi Taw Declaration, (2) Five-Year Plan of Action on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (2023-2027) and (3) Joint Initatives on the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Innovation Corridor Development.