At the fifth Mekong-Langcang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Photo: VNA)Vientiane (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh on February 20 suggested that the Mekong-Lancangcooperation (MLC) should contribute to consolidating coordination betweencountries in handling regional challenges and bringing about long-term benefitsfor people.
The mechanism should aim for strengthening the economy’sresilience in the face of uncertainties, Minh said at the fifth MLC ForeignMinisters’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos.
He emphasised the need to focus resources on vulnerable sectorsand those that serve as economic engines of member countries.
He elaborated that in agricultural cooperation, it is necessary tofocus on raising technology capacity for businesses, and improving marketstability and confidence for farm produce.
Minh also pointed to the severe drought in the Mekong River Basin thatrequires relevant countries to take drastic actions to ensure the river’ssustainable development.
He proposed intensifying the sharing of hydrological informationand statistics in both rainy and dry seasons, setting up early warning systemsand coordination mechanisms in the emergency management of floods, droughts andother disasters, carrying out joint projects to ensure people’s livelihood inthe face of climate change, enhancing cooperation in fighting diseases andreducing regional supply chain disruptions.
At the meeting, the ministers, who come from Cambodia, Laos,Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam, reviewed cooperation in 2019 anddiscussed collaboration orientations in the time ahead.
They took note of good outcomes in priority areas, especially theorganisation of the first Ministerial Meeting of Lancang-Mekong Water ResourcesCooperation, the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperationbetween the MLC Water Resources Cooperation Centre and the Secretariat of theMekong River Commission (MRC) and the establishment of the MLC agriculturalcooperation centre, among others.
The ministers agreed to push ahead with the implementation of theMLC Plan of Action for 2018-2020, under which the member countries will speedup the building and realisation of an action plan on regional connectivity,production capacity, water resources, trade and agriculture; fosterpartnerships in the combat against natural disasters, diseases and cross-bordercrime; step up exchanges and dialogues between local authorities and bordergate management agencies; and improve the operational efficiency of the MLCSpecial Fund.
They consented to strengthen the MLC’s connectivity and supportfor relevant regional cooperation mechanisms such as the ASEAN, the GreaterMekong Sub-region, the Mekong River Commission and the Ayeyawady -Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).
Regarding the complex development of COVID-19 andits impacts, the ministers called on countries to boost coordination and shareinformation about the epidemic, while maintaining trade exchange and economicgrowth.
They agreed to organise the third MLC Summit inLaos in 2020.
On the sidelines of the China-ASEAN SpecialForeign Ministers' Meetingalso in Vientiane, Minh met with Malaysian Foreign Minister SaifuddinAbdullah, during which the two sides shared the view on the fruitfuldevelopment of the Vietnam-Malaysia strategic partnership.
They concurred to promote high-level delegationexchanges, carry forward bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the jointcommittee on economic, scientific and technological cooperation, soon sign anaction programme on the implementation of the strategic partnership for2020-2025, and enhance cooperation and mutual support as Vietnam serves asASEAN Chair and Malaysia plays the host of APEC 2020.
Vietnam and Malaysia will further their partnershipin maritime issues and work together to contribute to promoting peace,stability and respect for international law in the East Sea. /.
VNA
