Beijing, November 4 (AseanAll) — On November 4, 2026, the 11th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Beijing. The meeting was co-chaired by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, and Union Minister for National Planning, Investment and Foreign Economic Relations of Myanmar U Aung Kyaw Hoe attended the meeting.
Wang Yi said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the first LMC Leaders’ Meeting. Over the past decade, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the six countries, the LMC has moved from a phase of building, in which the framework was set up and areas of cooperation expanded, to a phase of deep engagement, in which mechanisms are strengthened and practical results are emphasized, becoming the most dynamic and promising “golden example” of regional cooperation. Over the past decade, Lancang-Mekong countries have linked their future more closely together, gained more robust momentum for development, forged a stronger underpinning for security, and deepened people‑to‑people exchanges, bringing tangible benefits to the people of the six countries and effectively contributing to their respective modernization processes.
Wang Yi said that the LMC has grown from strength to strength thanks to the six countries' commitment to the founding aspiration of good neighborliness, friendship and a shared future; to focusing on development and practical cooperation; to the vision of benefiting the people and being open and inclusive; and to the courage of pursuing innovation and breaking new ground. In the face of multiple challenges in the region and the world, the Lancang-Mekong family should think and act as one and jointly take the LMC to a new level, solidly advance "LMC 2.0," work together to usher in a new golden decade of the LMC, and promote the common modernization of Lancang-Mekong countries.
Wang Yi introduced the significance and major measures of the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, saying that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, China will continue its innovation-driven, high-quality and positive development, injecting new impetus and bringing new opportunities to the region and the world. China is ready to work with Mekong countries, following the direction set by the leaders, taking more robust measures and moving in a more coordinated manner, to continuously enrich the Lancang‑Mekong community with a shared future, keep the LMC at the forefront of regional cooperation, make it a benchmark for the solidarity and collective strengths of the Global South, and contribute LMC’s efforts to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Wang Yi put forward a five-point proposal:
First, pool new synergies for solidarity and collective strengths. We should carry forward the LMC culture of equality, sincerity, mutual assistance and kinship, and effectively implement the second Five‑Year Plan of Action on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. We should maintain close exchanges and policy communication at all levels, and strengthen top‑level design and forge strategic consensus on important issues such as regional development and security. We should conduct regular exchanges between the legislative bodies and political parties of Lancang-Mekong countries, resolve differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation, and enhance security and resilience through development and cooperation.
Second, build a new frontier for opening-up and win‑win outcomes. We should strengthen alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation along the New International Land‑Sea Trade Corridor, advance a large market for economy and trade, robust circulation of finance, big connectivity of infrastructure and extensive people-to-people and cultural exchanges in the region, and jointly build the LMC Economic Development Belt. We should promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation in the region, strengthen joint research, technical cooperation and personnel training, effectively implement the Lancang-Mekong Special Cooperation Plan on Poverty Reduction through Science and Technology, advance the building of the information sharing platform for water resources cooperation, and increase the sense of gains of the people in the basin through more exemplary small and beautiful livelihood programs.
Third, foster new impetus for green innovation. We should expand cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing and smart agriculture, and promote the transformation of regional industrial cooperation toward new, smarter and greener development. We welcome more Mekong countries to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. We should strengthen the Research Center for Lancang-Mekong Youth Astronomical Sciences and push for the establishment of the Lancang-Mekong Universities Alliance, so as to inject youthful dynamism into innovation cooperation.
Fourth, consolidate new underpinnings for security. We should carry forward the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness and the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. We should oppose external interference and intervention, oppose instigating bloc confrontation, resist the building of exclusive "small circles," and never allow the resurgence of militarism. We should give full play to the role of the Lancang-Mekong Ministerial Meeting on Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation, step up joint crackdowns on cross-border criminal activities such as online gambling, telecom fraud, drug trafficking, counterfeiting and smuggling, and continue to ensure the success of the Safe Lancang-Mekong Operation and the Mekong River Joint Patrol and Law Enforcement Operation.
Fifth, foster new highlights in disaster management. We should push for the establishment of the Lancang-Mekong cross-border disaster early-warning cooperation mechanism, set up a real-time multi-source data exchange mechanism among Lancang-Mekong countries on hydrology, meteorology, geology and forest fires, and strengthen cooperation in disaster monitoring, early warning and emergency response, create a regional network for meteorological disaster monitoring and early warning, and build a demonstration network of earthquake early warning stations, so as to jointly enhance capabilities of disaster prevention, mitigation and relief.
All participating parties extended congratulations on the successful convening of the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and spoke highly of the positive progress the LMC has made over the past decade. They held that Lancang-Mekong countries have carried out practical cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect, good neighborliness and friendship, driving the LMC to grow from strength to strength, effectively promoting regional economic integration and the economic and social development of various countries, and benefiting their people. They appreciated China's important leading role in promoting cooperation, agreed with China's proposed direction for the next stage of work, and reiterated that they will continue to uphold good neighborliness, friendship, mutual respect and mutual trust, deepen cooperation and achieve win‑win outcomes, so as to jointly promote sustainable development and prosperity in the region. They agreed to strengthen the building of the LMC Economic Development Belt, deepen cooperation in priority areas such as connectivity, water resources and the environment, expand digital transformation and green innovation, and promote people‑to‑people and cultural exchanges. They agreed to strengthen disaster management, maintain close security coordination, combat cross‑border crimes, and safeguard regional tranquility. They agreed to promote the alignment and mutual reinforcement between the LMC and other regional mechanisms, uphold multilateralism, jointly address global challenges, and work together to build a Lancang‑Mekong community with a shared future. All parties agreed to maintain close communication to ensure that the fifth LMC Leaders’ Meeting achieves complete success and positive outcomes.
The meeting adopted the 2025 Implementation Progress Report on the Five‑Year Plan of Action on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (2023‑2027) and the 2026 List of Projects Supported by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund.
After the meeting, Wang Yi met the press jointly with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Sihasak Phuangketkeow.
During the meeting, Wang Yi also met separately with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, and Union Minister for National Planning, Investment and Foreign Economic Relations of Myanmar U Aung Kyaw Hoe.
