Foreign ministers from six Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) countries have highlighted the importance of an open world economy and the maintenance of a rules-based multilateral trade system with the World Trade Organisation at its core.
Foreign ministers from six Mekong-Lancang Cooperation countries pose for a photo at the meeting in
In a press statement released after the conclusion of the fourth MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Laos, ministers from China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam reaffirmed that the MLC will be based on the principles of consensus, equality, mutual consultation and coordination, voluntarism, common contribution, and shared benefits.
They also reiterated respect for the United Nations’ charter and international law, as well as aspired towards a spirit of friendship, openness, and inclusivity.
The ministers agreed to promote the synergy of national development strategies, bring into full play resource endowment and competitive advantages, promote rational flow and optimal allocation of production factors, and to start a discussion on jointly building a MLC Economic Development Belt for mutual benefit and shared prosperity.
They also pledged to conduct high-quality production capacity cooperation and speed up the formulation of a cooperation plan on connectivity among the Mekong-Lancang countries and development plans of cross-border economic and production capacity cooperation.
The ministers expressed readiness to work together for the complete success and positive outcomes of the fifth MLC foreign ministers’ meeting to be held in December 2019 in
The first MLC leaders’ meeting took place in March 2016.
VNA
