On August 16, 2024 local time, when presiding over the Ninth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi put forward a four-point proposal on the development of LMC in the next stage.

First, the LMC countries should focus on peace and stability and uphold a common vision. In the face of the turbulent international situation, the LMC countries should adhere to true multilateralism and open regionalism, resolutely resist zero-sum games and decoupling and severing industrial and supply chains, and work together to build a Lancang-Mekong home that shares weal and woe in solidarity. The LMC countries should uphold the spirit of openness and inclusiveness and actively explore tripartite cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other international organizations to boost the development of countries in the region.

China is ready to work with Mekong countries to uphold the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security vision, advance the Safe Lancang-Mekong Operation, convene the Lancang-Mekong Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Ministerial Meeting as soon as possible, accelerate the establishment of LMC judicial and legal cooperation mechanisms, step up joint efforts to combat transnational criminal activities, and jointly safeguard regional stability and tranquility.

Second, focus on innovation-driven development and bridge the digital divide. The LMC countries should accelerate the implementation of the Joint Initiatives on the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Innovation Corridor Development and improve the regional science and technology innovation cooperation mechanism. China is ready to assist Mekong countries in strengthening their artificial intelligence (AI) capacity building through flexible methods such as policy dialogue, joint research, and talent training, thus releasing more dividends of AI. China has invited representatives from the five Mekong countries to participate in training sessions and seminars on AI capacity building in China. China will establish a cooperation network for computing infrastructure between China and the Lancang-Mekong countries based on the Lancang-Mekong Cloud Computing Innovation Center, enabling AI to better serve the development of the Lancang-Mekong countries.

China is ready to continue implementing the Lancang-Mekong Space Cooperation Plan with Mekong countries, launch the "Fudan-1 Lancang-Mekong Future Star" at an early date, and support Fudan University in preparing for and establishing the Lancang-Mekong youth astronomical science research center, in order to provide an important platform for the six countries to carry out exchanges and cooperation in space observation and technology application.

Third, focus on interconnected development and enhance growth momentum. China is ready to work with Mekong countries to accelerate the construction of the Lancang-Mekong interconnectivity network, jointly formulate interconnectivity cooperation plans, and promote the southward extension of the China-Laos Railway to connect China, Laos and Thailand and support the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, so as to actively expand the regional connectivity network.

China is ready to work with Mekong countries to continue implementing the Three-Year Action Plan for Production Capacity and Investment Cooperation Among Lancang-Mekong Countries, give play to the role of the Joint Working Group on Production Capacity Cooperation, hold activities that promote production capacity and investment cooperation, explore the establishment of an information-sharing platform, carry out human resource training cooperation, and maintain the stability and unimpeded operation of industrial and supply chains in the region.

China actively supports the rural and agricultural revitalization of the Mekong countries, and is ready to make in-depth headway in the integrated development pilot of smart farms, strengthen the Mekong countries' whole-industry-chain digital cooperation including the production, processing, trade and consumption of agricultural products, establish a traceability system for fruit products, and enhance the competitiveness of agricultural products and the resilience of agricultural production systems in the Mekong countries.

China actively supports strengthening cooperation in addressing climate change and disaster prevention and mitigation. China appreciates the issuance of the Joint Statement on the Lancang-Mekong Clean Air Initiative at this foreign ministers' meeting. In the next three years, the six countries will complete the building of such platforms as the Demonstration of Air Quality Monitoring Technology in Lancang-Mekong Countries, the Comprehensive Meteorological Service Sharing Platform for the Lancang-Mekong Basin, and the Emergency Information Sharing and Cooperation System for the Lancang-Mekong Region. The six countries should jointly implement the Initiative on Deepening Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation to improve and upgrade the water resources cooperation.

Fourth, focus on people-to-people connectivity and cultivate the Lancang-Mekong culture. The LMC countries should make good use of the benefits of the "visa-free era" to facilitate personnel exchanges among the six countries. The six countries should leverage the role of the Lancang-Mekong Tourism Cities Cooperation Alliance and accelerate the preparation for and establishment of the Lancang-Mekong Aviation Development & Cooperation Alliance (LMAA), in a bid to promote the sustainable recovery of the tourism industry in the Mekong countries. China will continue to make good use of such platforms as the Lancang-Mekong International Vocational Institute and the Lancang-Mekong Vocational Education Training Center, and strengthen cooperation in higher education and vocational education with the Mekong countries.

Efforts should be made to ensure the success of commemorative activities for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Viet Nam as well as between China and Myanmar next year, establish a broadcasting and television media cooperation platform for the Lancang-Mekong countries, and continue to hold exchange activities such as the Lancang-Mekong Culture and Arts Festival, the Lancang-Mekong International Film Week, and the Lancang-Mekong Local Cooperation and Development Forum, so that the Lancang-Mekong culture featuring equality, sincerity, mutual assistance and kinship will be more deeply rooted in people's hearts.