2023 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Media Summit & Workshop nurtures a community of shared future

The 2023 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Media Summit and Workshop were held from 27 June to 4 July 2023 in three major cities of China to build a community of shared and better future of the six Lancang-Mekong Cooperation member nations including Myanmar.
The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Media Summit 2023 was held at the office of the People’s Daily in Beijing, China on 27 June 2023 and attended by 80 representatives and journalists from six member states of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.
With the momentum of “One Belt, One Road” initiatives, the Summit led to the joint development of the interests of the six countries in the Lancang-Mekong region.
In his keynote speech, Mr Li Shulei, Member of the Political Bureau, Secretary of the Secretariat, and Head of the Publicity Department, of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, China underscored the importance of the betterment of global economic cooperation along with the five ASEAN countries. The member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Assistant Foreign Minister, China, the vice-president of the Xinhua News Agency, the vice-president of the China Media Group, the president and editor-in-chief of the People’s Daily remarked on the occasion.
Media leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam made the respective keynote speeches at the event. In his keynote speech, Chief Editor Aungthu Ya of The Global New Light of Myanmar highlighted the significance of the 2023 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Media Summit to enhance much closer people-to-people exchanges among member states of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation in the future. He called for the promotion of unity among member states and moving forward with a spirit of sustainable collaboration.
Panel discussions were followed after the keynote speeches. Media personnel from six Lancang-Mekong Cooperation member nations contributed their respective presentations under the titles “Driving Regional Economic Recovery for Mutual Benefit” and “Promoting Media Exchanges for Closer Bonds”.
In Panel Discussion 1, Yangon Media Group Chairman U Ko Ko pointed out the vital role of promoting trade and investment, providing an attractive platform for regional countries, cooperation of financial sectors and regional connectivity.
In Panel Discussion 2, Northern Light Journal Chief Editor U Win Tin underscored the urgent need for media cooperation for closer bonds among six Lancang-Mekong Cooperation member states.
The kick-off ceremony of the 2023 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Media Workshop was conducted and attended by representatives of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation member states including U San Nyein Aung (General Manager – Shwe Than Lwin Media Company Limited) and U Kyaw Zay Yar Myat (General Manager – Vidya Media) before concluding the media summit.
Media Workshops related to the Summit were also held in Beijing, Guangzhou and Kunming until 4 July.
First of all, China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC) launched a media workshop in Beijing on 28 June, highlighting the topics named Green and Low-Carbon Development, Creating Opportunities for Local Development, and its key projects in Lancang-Mekong Cooperation member states.
The CEEC is joining hands with LMC member countries. Up to now, it has constructed 107 hydropower plants, thermal power plants, power transmission and water projects, with a total amount of over US$9 million.
As a pioneer in energy revolution and power construction, CEEC upholds the new development concept of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and shared benefits.
Myanmar representatives joined a media workshop conducted by the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Centre in Beijing on 29 July. During the workshop, delegates discussed further strengthening cooperation on sustainable management and utilization of water resources between Lancang-Mekong Cooperation countries and exchanged experiences.
A mechanism for the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation has been formed with the joint efforts of six Lancang-Mekong Cooperation member nations. The cooperation has been enhanced among the LMC member countries in sustainable water resources management and utilization, and irrigation.
The 2023 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Media Workshop moved forward to Guangzhou after the flight from Beijing on 29 June.
Media delegates visited the Guangzhou Automobile Group Company Limited on 30 June and observed the production of electric vehicles using the newly advanced technologies.
They attended a workshop conducted by the China Southern Power Grid (CSG) in Guangzhou on 1 July. Delegates conducted in-depth exchanges on various topics related to power grids.
As a result of the workshop discussion, the CSG uses towers equipped with automatic power tracking equipment to adequately distribute urban and rural residual electricity.
In the afternoon, the media delegates visited Huawei Research and Development Centre in Dongguan where discussions about the 5G network and automatic mining processes were made.
China’s high-tech giant Huawei is replacing human activities in mineral and oil exploration with automatic tracking and measurement system technologies, and connecting 5G internet network connections to universities and colleges.
The media delegates also visited the Lingdingyang Bridge, an important control project of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, supervised by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) on 2 July.
It has a total length of 2,826 metres, and a main span of 1,666 metres, which is the world’s largest span full offshore suspension bridge. The bridge has a deck height of 91 metres, making it the world’s tallest mid-sea bridge.
The CCCC has been fully involved in the construction of the economic development belt in the LMC mechanism.
The 2023 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Media Workshop moved forward again to Kunming, Yunnan Province, by a domestic flight from Guangzhou on 2 July.
In Kunming, the media delegates joined workshops held at Yunnan University in the morning and Yunnan Daily in the afternoon on 3 July and exchanged education systems and media cooperation between the LMC member countries.
The media representatives travelled to Fuyuan by a High-Speed Train on 4 July to attend a workshop conducted by the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC).
During the workshop, the SPIC pointed out the Fuyuan West Wind Farm Project, which is currently the plateau wind power base with the largest installed capacity in China.
The SPIC is providing sufficient power with wind turbines, so Myanmar should also acquire such advanced power tower technologies for the required power, and cooperate with China in wind power generation.
The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework covers a wide range of areas, including connectivity, infrastructure development, water resources management, agriculture, poverty reduction, public health, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. The LMC operates through multiple mechanisms, such as leaders’ meetings, foreign ministers’ meetings, senior officials’ meetings, and thematic working groups.
The LMC is actively carrying out projects related to electricity generation from hydro, solar and wind power etc., water resources, disaster management, capacity development, environmental conservation, agricultural development, cultural exchanges, and infrastructure development, and it aims at promoting inclusive and sustainable development in the Lancang-Mekong region including Myanmar.
As a supporter and practitioner of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, China is insisting on international priority and actively participates in Lancang-Mekong Cooperation while deeply cultivating Southeast Asian development.
Building a better and shared society, and constructing projects that benefit the people, has always been the goal pursued by the six Lancang-Mekong member nations. The Government of China is encouraging Chinese enterprises, experts and technicians to strengthen cooperation with the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation member countries in various projects.
Capacity building is also important to strengthen the talent pool in Lancang-Mekong Cooperation member countries inclusive of Myanmar and create more favourable conditions for the implementation of regional connectivity projects. The activities are strengthening comprehensive collaboration in technical exchanges, capacity building, data, information and media sharing, joint research and analysis related to the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.
In conclusion, the LMC is building on the sound momentum generated to steer the Belt and Road initiative towards greater success, mutual learning and benefits in the Lancang-Mekong region.
It is welcoming that the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation long-term project activities connect with Myanmar and other member countries. Also, people-to-people bonds are being added to the ongoing projects for mutual interests. Myanmar and all the LMC member states should seize this opportunity and embrace China’s technology, human resources, and financial assistance for further development in respective member countries of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.