On the occasion of celebrating Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Week and the 2^nd Anniversary of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC), which falls on 23^rd March 2018, on behalf of the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and on my own behalf, I would like to convey my sincere congratulations and best wishes to the people of MLC Member Countries as well as to the Lao people.

Throughout 2 years of its existence, MLC has become a forum for cooperation of Asia sub-regional Mechanism, which consists of three (03) cooperation pillars, namely : political and security, economic and sustainable development, and social, cultural and people to people exchanges; that cover five (05) key priority areas as follows : connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources, and agriculture and poverty reduction.At the 2^nd Mekong-Lancang Leader’s Meeting held in January 2018 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, MLC Leaders reviewed the progress in implementing programmes and projects under Sanya Declaration of the 1^st Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leader’s Meeting. The 2^nd MLC Leader’s Meeting also adopted Phnom Penh Declaration on fostering cooperation, enhancing well-being of the people in this region, narrowing development gap among countries in the region and also supporting ASEAN Community building as well as promoting the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in accordance with South-South cooperation, the Belt and Road Initiative (B&R), the 13 MLC initiatives proposed by China, the Five-Year Plan of Action on Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (2018-2022) and the Joint Press Communiqués of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meetings.

Lao PDR, as the co-chair with People’s Republic of China on Mekong-Lancang Cooperation for period of 2018-2020 will continue to work together with other member countries in order to actively contribute to the implementation of MLC projects and programmes. In this connection, Lao PDR will host the 3^rd MLC Leader’s Meeting, the 4^th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and MLC related meetings during 2018-2020.

On this auspicious occasion, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all Mekong Countries and China for mutual support, assistance and cooperation to in a cohesive manner in accordance with the theme of the 2^nd MLC leaders’ meeting: “Our River of Peace and Sustainable Development”. Lao PDR as MLC member country wishes for our long-lasting and strengthened relations and cooperation between member countries for well-being and prosperity of the people of our region.

                                                                                                Saleumxay KOMMASITH

                                                                                                Minister of Foreign Affairs