According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on November 4, 2026, Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, presided over the eleventh Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation in Beijing. During the meeting, he put forward five suggestions for the next stage of development of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.
Firstly, it is necessary to build a new joint force for unity and self-improvement. We should promote the Lantheme culture of "equality, sincere mutual assistance, and kinship like family members". We must implement the five-year action plan for Lantheme cooperation effectively. We should strengthen exchanges at all levels and policy communication, enhance top-level design, and reach strategic consensus, so as to set a direction for the upgrading of cooperation. We should also exchange and learn from each other's governance experiences. We should resolve differences and disputes through dialogue and negotiation, and enhance security resilience through development and cooperation. Together, we must maintain a friendly and cooperative overall situation.
Secondly, we need to build new heights of openness and mutual benefit. We should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation in the “New International Land-Sea Trade Corridors,” and promote regional economic and trade integration, as well as financial connectivity, infrastructure connectivity, and cultural exchanges. Together, we can create an economic development belt for the Lancang-Mekong Basin. We should facilitate regional trade and investment through liberalization and simplification of procedures. We should enhance joint research, technical cooperation, and personnel training. We should promote the establishment of a Lancang-Mekong Poverty Reduction Cooperation Center and implement the “Lancang-Mekong Science and Technology Poverty Reduction Special Cooperation Plan.” We should advance the construction of platforms for water resources cooperation and information sharing, deepen cooperation in air quality management and monitoring, and accelerate cooperation and exchanges in tourism, media, and think tanks. Using the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund as a catalyst, we can create more “small but beautiful” livelihood demonstration projects, thereby effectively enhancing the sense of achievement among the people in the basin.
Third, cultivate new drivers of green innovation. It is necessary to expand cooperation in emerging fields such as digital economy, artificial intelligence, intelligent manufacturing, and smart agriculture. We should accelerate the joint initiative on leveraging artificial intelligence for digital transformation, strengthen cooperation in supply chains, and achieve consensus on joint declarations to improve the business environment. This will promote regional industrial cooperation towards innovation, intelligence, and sustainability. China welcomes more Mekong River countries to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. By leveraging the demonstration effect of “Lancang-Mekong Future Stars,” we can strengthen the Lancang-Mekong Youth Astrophysics Research Center and promote the establishment of a “Lancang-Mekong National Universities Alliance.” This will inject youthful vitality into the advancement of innovative cooperation.
Fourth, we must establish new barriers for security cooperation. We should promote the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness, as well as a joint, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable approach to security. We must firmly oppose external interference and attempts to provoke confrontations between different factions. We should resist the creation of exclusive “clans” and never allow militarism to re-emerge. We should leverage the role of the Lancang-Mekong Ministerial Conference for law enforcement and security cooperation. We should intensify joint efforts to combat cross-border crimes such as online gambling, telecommunications fraud, drug trafficking, and smuggling. We should continue to carry out the “Safe Lancang-Mekong Initiative” and the Mekong River Joint Patrol and Law Enforcement Operations.
Fifth, create new highlights in disaster management. Promote the establishment of a cross-border disaster warning cooperation mechanism among Lancang-Mekong countries. Establish a real-time data exchange mechanism for hydrology, meteorology, geology, and forest fires among Lancang-Mekong countries. Strengthen cooperation in disaster monitoring, early warning, and emergency response with Mekong River countries. Build a regional network for meteorological disaster monitoring and early warning. Carry out earthquake warning demonstration systems to jointly enhance disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief capabilities.
