Congratulatory Message by His Excellency Saleumxay KOMMASITH

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

On the occasion of the 4^th Anniversary of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Establishment

(23 March 2016 - 23 March 2020)

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On the occasion of the 4^th Anniversary of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC), which falls on 23^rd March 2020, on behalf of the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, I would like to convey my profound congratulations and salutations to all people of the MLC Member Countries, including the Lao PDR.

While the international community is facing both expanding opportunity and rising challenges, the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation has played an important role in strengthening multilateralism and mutual support for win-win cooperation in order to address regional and international challenges, thus contributing to shared future of prosperity for all. This year, the outbreak of COVID-19 has posed a broad impact to the regional and global socio-economic development as well as the people’s livelihood and spirit. The leading role and the ability of China to comprehensively control over the outbreak in a timely manner provide confidence and strong support to the international community to win the battle against COVID-19.

Since the establishment of MLC in 2016, it has significantly contributed to deepening practical cooperation across the board, promoting mutual trust, advancing socio-economic development, broadening common interests and strengthening good-neighbourlinesswith a view to enhancing people’s well-being, narrowing the development gap and supporting ASEAN Community building under the three pillars, namely (1) political and security, (2) economic and sustainable development, and (3) social, cultural and people to people exchanges and five key priority areas, comprising (1) connectivity, (2) production capacity, (3) cross-border economic cooperation, (4) water resources, and (5) agriculture and poverty reduction.

The Lao PDR, as the co-chair with the People’s Republic of China on Mekong-Lancang Cooperation for the period of 2018-2020, pledges a strong commitment to continuing close cooperation with the MLC member countries in order to move forwards our cooperation to a higher level. In this connection, the Lao PDR had successfully hosted the 4^th and the 5^th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meetings in December 2018 in Luang Prabang and in February 2020 in Vientiane, respectively and is preparing for the upcoming 3^rd MLC Leaders’ Meeting to be held later this year in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

On this occasion, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all Mekong Countries and China for the continued support, assistance and constructive engagement in accordance with the theme of Lao co-chairmanship: “Enhancing Partnership for Shared Prosperity”. In conclusion, I wish the cooperative relations between and among MLC member countries be further strengthened and deepened, and people-to-people exchange and mutual understanding between and among the people of the Mekong countries and China be further enhanced.