PHNOM PENH, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A decade on, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) has evolved into a dynamic and results-oriented platform, fostering dialogue, development, and mutual trust among member countries, Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn said here on Friday.
Sokhonn, who is also a deputy prime minister, made the remarks at the LMC Night, which was held to celebrate LMC Week 2026 and the LMC's 10th anniversary, with participation from dozens of senior Cambodian government officials.
The LMC consists of six countries, namely China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
The Cambodian top diplomat said the LMC's 10th anniversary marked a "significant milestone in our shared journey toward peace, prosperity, and harmony."
He said the LMC had yielded tangible progress across a wide range of priority areas, including sustainable water resource management, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, agriculture, education, culture, tourism, energy, women's empowerment and people-to-people exchanges.
"In this regard, the LMC Special Fund stands out as a particularly effective instrument, enabling member countries to translate shared aspirations into concrete and impactful projects," Sokhonn said.
He added that the LMC countries have steadily advanced the collective vision of building a community characterized by peace, stability, and sustainable development.
"These achievements clearly demonstrate that the LMC is more than a mechanism; it is a living and evolving partnership, grounded in mutual trust and shared aspirations," he said.
"It stands today as a strong example of South-South cooperation, illustrating how countries of the Global South can work together to transform challenges into opportunities and foster a future of shared prosperity," he added.
Originating from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in southwest China, the 4,880-km river is called the Lancang River in China and the Mekong River as it flows through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before emptying into the sea.
The LMC has centered on five priority areas, namely connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources management, and agriculture and poverty reduction.
Sokhonn said the destinies of LMC countries are closely interconnected.
"As we move forward, it is essential that we further enhance collaboration in key areas, including sustainable water resource management, connectivity and economic integration, green development, digital transformation, and inclusive growth, for the shared benefit of all our peoples," he said.
Sokhonn expressed his deep appreciation for China's enduring friendship, generosity, and steadfast support for Cambodia, saying that these contributions have played an important role in strengthening resilience and advancing development priorities in the kingdom.
He reaffirmed Cambodia's unwavering commitment to working closely with China and all Lancang-Mekong member countries to effectively implement existing initiatives and to explore new avenues of cooperation.
"Looking ahead, Cambodia remains firmly committed to deepening LMC, including through the promotion of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation," he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin said it has been a "golden decade" of rapid development and fruitful achievements for the Lancang-Mekong countries since the first LMC Leaders' Meeting was convened in Sanya city of southern China's Hainan Province in March 2016.
He said the LMC has become the most dynamic and promising sub-regional cooperation mechanism, delivering fruitful results to all member countries.
"The pace and scale of the LMC are unprecedented in the history of international and regional cooperation, fully demonstrating its vigorous vitality, strong cohesion, and outstanding action," Wang said.
Looking ahead to the next decade, he said the future prospects of the LMC are promising, as China is committed to working with all LMC countries to promote the Lancang-Mekong culture of "equality, sincere mutual assistance, and family-like closeness." ■
