Hanoi: The Vietnamese Government always attaches importance to the Mekong – Lancang Cooperation (MLC) and will continue joining hands with China and other Mekong countries to promote the strong, effective, and sustainable development of this cooperation mechanism, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The PM made the statement while addressing the fourth MLC Leaders’ Meeting held via videoconference on December 25. The event was attended by the PMs and heads of the delegations of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China, and Vietnam.

Participants reviewed the MLC results over the last three years since the third meeting held in August 2020, and discussed orientations for the time ahead.

In his speech, PM Chinh emphasised that the MLC has become an important mechanism connecting the Mekong countries and China, and also a model of working together for common development and win-win cooperation.

Over its seven years of development, the MLC has obtained outstanding achievements, he noted, elaborating that this
cooperation mechanism has been increasingly perfected, its content has become more and more substantive, and the friendship and mutual understanding among people of the six countries have been further intensified.

The Government leader of Vietnam held that in the face of fast and profound changes in the world’s economy, to strongly move forward, the six MLC countries should adopt a more comprehensive mindset, a people-based, regional and global approach, along with new, drastic, creative, and breakthrough solutions.

Proposing three priorities for the MLC in the coming period, PM Chinh said that first, the countries should build a Mekong – Lancang region of modernity and development with resources unleashed, mobilised, and effectively used; optimise potential and strengths of each country and all the six; and view their internal strength as the fundamental and strategic factor while external resources as an important and breakthrough one.

The focal task is to promote the industrialisation, modernisation, an
d building of independent and self-reliant economies for the MLC countries in tandem with active, extensive, substantive, and effective integration into the world, he continued.

The MLC should turn innovation and science – technology into a cooperation focus in which the countries should support fundamental industries, gradually shift from processing and assembly to researching, designing and manufacturing, and apply new technology to industrial and agricultural production. The countries need to step up digital transformation via partnerships in digital infrastructure, digital human resources, digital security, and digital economy. They should encourage the participation of development partners and businesses in the spirit of ‘harmonising interests and sharing risks’. It is also necessary to boost transport cooperation, especially high-speed railway connectivity, and consider a mechanism for making payments in their national currencies, he opined.

Second, the PM noted, the countries should develop a green,
sustainable, and inclusive Mekong – Lancang region that ensures the harmony between the present and the future as well as between economic growth and environmental protection; puts people at the centre and views people as the key stakeholder, momentum, resource, and target of development; and leaves no one behind.

The immediate priority should be given to assisting the countries to realise the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the commitments to reducing carbon emissions to build green and circular economies. It is important to enhance regional cooperation in protecting the environment; responding to natural disasters; managing and efficiently, sustainably, equitably, and reasonably using the Mekong – Lancang River; and especially not changing the river’s natural flows.

To secure a better future for people, the six countries need to proritise investment for developing humans, building inclusive education and health systems, assisting the young workforce to access
science and technology, and creating conditions for all people to benefit from the development process, according to the PM.

The third priority is to build a Mekong – Lancang region of peace and cooperation, he said, adding that the six countries should unceasingly strengthen their mutual trust, sincerity, solidarity, and consensus, promote common interests, and uphold multilateralism. They need to enhance the MLC’s complementarity with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other regional and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms to optimise resources to boost common benefits.

PM Chinh affirmed support for Laos to successfully hold the ASEAN chairmanship in 2024 and also pointed out the need to give higher priority to cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, especially among their younger generations.

Concluding the meeting, the leaders adopted the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration, the MLC plan of action for 2023-2027, and the initiative on the Mekong – Lancang innovation corridor./.
Sour
ce: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Politburo member, Permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat, and Chairwoman of the CPV Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Truong Thi Mai on December 25 held talks with Chairman of the Presidium of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Central Committee Shii Kazuo who is paying an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of CPV Central Committee.

At the talks, Mai, who is also Chairwoman of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, congratulated the JCP on its achievements and new, important strides in the construction and development process over the past 100 years. She expressed her strong belief that the JCP will continue to gain many new achievements, and successfully organise its 29th congress in early 2024.

Mai also informed the guest about Vietnam’s socio-economic development as well as the Party building and rectification work, especially the country’s achievements after nearly 40 years of “Doi moi’ (renewal).

Mai affirmed
Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, development, multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations. She highly appreciated the establishment of the Vietnam-Japan comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world, which opened up a new stage of development in the bilateral relations.

The CPV and the people of Vietnam always treasure the traditional friendship, mutual trust and understanding with the JCP, remember and appreciate the valuable support of the JCP and the Japanese people for the Vietnamese people through different periods, she said.

Mai hoped that the JCP will continue its support for the Vietnam-Japan relations, including the relationship between the two parliaments and their people.

For his part, Shii Kazuo informed the host about the situation in Japan, the JCP’s recent construction and development, and the results of implementing the supplemented and amended platform approved at the 28th congress of the JCP.

He also sha
red the JCP’s operational orientations in the coming time, including preparations for its 29th congress in January 2024.

Shii Kazuo affirmed that the JCP always cherishes the traditional friendship with the CPV, and supports Vietnam in promoting its role, position, and prestige in the region and the world.

The JCP shares Vietnam’s views on issues related to peace, stability, and development in Asia, including Southeast Asia, he said, adding that the JCP highly appreciates ASEAN’s role and efforts in many fields, including the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

The official also mentioned the JCP’s stand on several international and regional issues.

The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation between the CPV and JCP through high-level contacts and exchanges and the sharing of information, theories, and practical experiences. The two sides will continue promoting cooperation between the two countries, creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese people to work and study in Japan and people-to-peo
ple exchanges as well as coordinating on international issues, including forums of political parties./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency