Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attends the 7th Mekong-Lancang Coooeration (MLC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Myanmar. (photo: VNA)

Participants lauded the MLC's contributions to regional cooperation and development, especially amid complicated developments of COVID-19.

They emphasised the principles of consensus, equality, mutual consultation and shared benefits, with respect for the United Nations Charter and international laws. At the same time, they agreed to promote MLC cooperation by consolidating the friendly neighbourliness, making positive contributions to socio-economic development of member countries, building the ASEAN Community, and realising the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

They adopted a Joint Press Communique and four joint statements on strengthening agricultural cooperation, disaster prevention, customs and trade facilitation, and exchanges between MLC civilisations.

Addressing the meeting, FM Son suggested four major measures to make the MLC more effective. He placed strong emphasis on speeding up economic recovery, enhancing the economy’s resilience, and strengthening customs cooperation and trade facilitation in order to address goods congestion and ensure the circulation of goods and services.

Son suggested supporting member countries in adapting to climate change and transitioning to a green economic model, including improving clean energy production and storage capacity, and applying high technology to smart agriculture and climate change response.

He proposed stronger cooperation in managing and using water resources in a sustainable manner, especially through the speeding up of the building of a MLC action plan for water resources collaboration in the 2023-2027 period.

It is necessary to encourage the expansion of consultations and dialogues among member countries on the water resources development plan, while increasing the coordination between the MLC and the Mekong River Commission, and enhancing the people-to-people contacts through recovering and expanding tourism activities as well as cooperation among local administrations, the organisation of culture, sports and communications events, and the empowerment of women and youngsters.