Cambodia stands firm on regional solidarity at MLC Meeting

(L-R) Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Laotian Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Cambodian Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn, and Myanmar Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe, at the 10th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Yunnan, China. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Synopsis: Along with five other Mekong-Lancang nations, Cambodia sets priorities for the region’s next ‘golden decade’.

Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to regional solidarity, sustainable development, and deeper cooperation at the 10th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held from August 14 to 15 in China’s Yunnan province.

Led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn, the Cambodian delegation joined counterparts from five other Mekong countries in celebrating a decade of progress and setting new priorities for the region’s next “golden decade”.

Under the theme “Golden Decade: Staying Committed to Building a Better Community Through Solidarity”, the meeting reaffirmed the collective commitment of the six riparian countries to deepen cooperation, advance sustainable development, and strengthen regional peace and prosperity.

Co-chaired by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Thailand’s Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, the ministers applauded a decade of tangible progress under the MLC framework – highlighting China’s role in fostering neighbourliness and contributing to regional integration.

The ministers agreed to prepare for the upcoming MLC Leaders’ Meeting and outlined priorities for the next “golden decade”.

During the meeting, Sokhonn praised the MLC’s achievements over the past 10 years, particularly projects supported through the MLC Special Fund.

He highlighted key areas for future cooperation, including the application of advanced technology in agriculture, MSME development, women’s entrepreneurship, transboundary crime prevention, climate-resilient water management, and green economic connectivity. He also welcomed China’s proposed initiative on overseas citizen safety protection.

On the sidelines, the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from China, Myanmar, and Vietnam, further consolidating Cambodia’s diplomatic ties across the region.

In his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, both sides hailed the recent elevation of their bilateral ties to an “All-Weather Cambodia–China Community with a Shared Future,” following President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Cambodia.

They discussed strengthening cooperation under initiatives such as the Rice and Fish Corridor and the Industrial and Innovation Corridor, as well as upcoming high-level visits, including that of King Norodom Sihamoni to Beijing and Prime Minister Hun Manet’s attendance at the SCO Plus Summit.

With Myanmar’s Foreign Minister U Than Swe, both leaders acknowledged the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and reaffirmed cooperation in areas such as trade, religion, culture, and tourism. They also noted the upcoming visit of USDP Chair H.E. U Khin Yi to Cambodia.

In talks with Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, the two nations expressed satisfaction with their growing political trust and deepening cooperation across multiple sectors. They looked forward to further strengthening ties through upcoming visits and the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation scheduled for October in Siem Reap.

The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting concluded with a shared vision for enhanced collaboration, peace, and sustainable development across the Mekong sub-region – marking a decade of achievement and setting the course for an even more integrated and resilient future.

The MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting serves as a key platform for dialogue and coordination among the six member countries – Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.