Anning: The Thai and Chinese Foreign Ministers announced the results of the 10th Multilateralism (MMLC) meeting, emphasizing three key issues: addressing cross-border issues, natural resources, and joint innovation development, addressing global uncertainty, and adhering to the principles of good neighborliness and unity. This is before Thailand hosts the Leaders' Summit this December.
According to Thai News Agency, following the conclusion of the 10th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Anning, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, co-chaired by Thailand and China this morning, Mr. Marish Sngiampong, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, along with Mr. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, jointly announced the results of the meeting.
Mr. Maris stated that he was honored to be in Anning and co-chair this year. He expressed his gratitude to Mr. Wang Yi and all the foreign ministers for their participation in the 10th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation, which has long held significant strategic, geographic, political, and economic significance. It has also played a crucial role in the region's sustainable development, fostering peace, and bringing prosperity to its member countries over the past 10 years. This is a testament to the trust, equality, and unity of the MLC, where cooperation surpasses confrontation, and differences are resolved through mutual respect.
Today, the meeting reviewed progress under the MLC's five-year action plan for 2023-2027 in key sectors, including water resources, the environment, trade facilitation, agriculture, innovation, and people-to-people connectivity. This is to ensure that the MLC's over 1,000 special fund projects deliver tangible results in line with its vision and truly enhance subregional development.
At the same time, the MLC can be further strengthened through collaboration within other cooperation frameworks, such as the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Mekong River Commission (MRC), and ASEAN, to jointly address emerging regional challenges and effectively resolve them.
Thailand would like to emphasize three key areas agreed upon by member states: 1. Strengthening cross-border cooperation to combat cross-border crime, including cybercrime and online fraud, particularly through increased intelligence sharing, joint training, and capacity building; 2. Managing water resources and environmental security, such as flooding, water contamination, and PM2.5 dust, which are urgent and require collaborative solutions through innovation and technology exchanges; and 3. Promoting innovation and resilient development, such as smart agriculture, digital trade, and AI applications in education and health, as well as sustainable tourism, to meet people's needs, adhering to the principles of good neighborliness, mutual respect, equality, and solidarity. Amid global uncertainty and growing challenges, solidarity through dialogue and practical cooperation is more important than ever.
Mr. Maris also expressed Thailand's commitment to hosting the 5th MLC Leaders' Meeting this December and looked forward to welcoming MLC leaders to Bangkok to jointly plan for a more resilient and forward-looking MLC's future role.