Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – On March 25, 2026, the 2026 Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Week officially opened at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel in Bangkok. Mr. Chettapan Maksamphan, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and His Excellency Zhang Jianwei, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Thailand, co-hosted the event. This Cooperation Week, jointly organized by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, aims to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation framework.
As an important prelude to the 5th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders' Meeting, which Thailand plans to host later in 2026, this Cooperation Week, guided by the principle of "building consensus and empowering practical action," systematically reviewed the development achievements of the cooperation framework over the past ten years and strived to promote a number of implementable cooperation outcomes, fully demonstrating Thailand's active role and key responsibility as a founding member in advancing regional sustainable cooperation. Since the launch of the cooperation framework, Thailand has consistently worked closely with all member states, including Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, continuously injecting momentum into improving the quality and efficiency of regional cooperation.
The "Tenth Anniversary Dialogue on Multilateral Cooperation," held during the event, was one of the core agendas. Representatives from the public sector, heads of international organizations, academic experts, and youth representatives gathered to exchange in-depth views on summarizing the achievements of cooperation over the past decade and future development directions. Participants focused on key areas such as addressing cross-border development challenges, applying innovative technologies, and inclusive and sustainable development. Ample space was also reserved for youth participation in shaping the vision for cooperation, reflecting the "youth-first" development philosophy and highlighting the long-term resilience and enduring value of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation.
Regarding cooperation achievements, to date, Thai institutions have successfully implemented 112 cooperation projects under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund (MLCSF) framework. In 2025, another 19 new projects have been approved for funding, covering multiple key areas such as scientific and technological innovation, integrated water resource management, and climate change response. These pragmatic measures have not only effectively improved the well-being of people in the region, but have also continuously injected strong momentum into the sustainable development of the entire Mekong-Lancang subregion.
