The Forum on Lancang-Mekong Local Government Cooperation was held both online and in-person in the city of Beihai in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Dec. 17.
Under the theme of "increasing local-level exchanges and deepening Lancang-Mekong cooperation," guests discussed such topics as strengthening cooperation in fighting the pandemic and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.
The forum marks the first exchange and cooperation platform for the local governments of the six Lancang-Mekong countries. It was held to implement the consensus reached at the third Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders' Meeting and the Sixth LMC Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent a congratulatory letter to the forum.
Participating representatives of the Chinese local governments introduced their respective economic and social development achievements and promised to give full play to their respective advantages and further promote cooperation with Mekong countries from the local level, including jointly developing the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, and LMC local-level cooperation.
The forum issued a chairman's statement, agreeing to hold the second forum in due course next year and encourage more local governments of the six Lancang-Mekong countries to participate in and contribute to common development.
The forum was co-sponsored by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.