A Chinese diplomat and Myanmar officials said recently that the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) has been promoting regional economic integration and common development as the week ending on March 24 this year marks the seventh Lancang-Mekong Week and the eighth anniversary of the launch of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC).
Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai said in a signed article on Wednesday that the construction of a community with a shared future for LMC countries has been deepened and consolidated since LMC has started from scratch.
China-Myanmar cooperation under the LMC framework has achieved fruitful results and made significant contributions to Myanmar's sustainable economic and social development and improvement of people's livelihood, he said in the article titled "Improving Quality and Efficiency of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation" in Myanmar's official media Global New Light of Myanmar and Myanma Alinn.
The ambassador said that the Chinese-style modernization will bring new benefits to the development of Myanmar and other LMC countries, and add greater momentum to Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.
Launched in 2016, the LMC has become a "golden model" of regional cooperation, and positive progress has been made in building a community of shared future for LMC countries. The level of regional interconnection has been significantly improved, accelerating regional economic, trade and personnel exchanges. The annual trade volume between China and LMC countries has doubled in the past seven years.
The LMC Special Fund has supported Myanmar in carrying out a total of 106 projects, ranking among the top countries along the Mekong River in both quantity and funding.
Ohnmar Khine, a deputy director from Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Xinhua on Thursday that LMC model's focus on regional integration and its significance in steering countries away from Cold War mentalities, highlighting the LMC success in fostering unity, mutual understanding and development among members.
Noting China's support for infrastructure, technology sectors and educational programs in the countries, U Kyaw Thet Oo, a director from Myanmar's Ministry of Science and Technology, told Xinhua on Friday that cooperation in various fields facilitated by the LMC benefits regional people, including development of local businesses, production of technologically advanced products and creation of jobs.
Deputy Director General of Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development Daw Nyo Nyo Win said Thursday that the LMC has expanded cooperation in sectors such as health, natural disaster prevention, environmental conservation, cultural cooperation, tourism, education and media in the Mekong River basin countries, bringing significant all-round development in the river basin countries.
Daw Myat Thiri Aung, an official from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, on Wednesday expressed her hopes that the LMC will contribute to sustainable development, regional peace, the well-being of people and the reduction of developmental gaps among member countries.