Connecting China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, the Lancang-Mekong River continues to serve as both a geographic link and a foundation for shared development.

Since its launch in 2015, the LMC has expanded rapidly, evolving into one of the region’s most active cooperation platforms. Trade between China and the Mekong countries has doubled, while major infrastructure projects have improved connectivity and supported economic integration. At the same time, smaller community-based initiatives have delivered tangible benefits at the local level.

Cooperation has also deepened in security and public safety, with joint efforts to combat cross-border crime and improve coordination on disaster response and public health challenges.

At a meeting in Kunming in 2025, member states agreed to advance what they describe as “LMC 2.0,” an upgraded framework aimed at strengthening solidarity, promoting innovation, and ensuring more balanced and sustainable growth.

Under this next phase, countries are expected to expand high-level coordination, improve institutional mechanisms, and explore the establishment of a permanent international secretariat to support long-term cooperation.

Economic priorities are shifting toward innovation, with a growing focus on the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and clean energy. Officials say closer coordination in trade systems and supply chains will also be key to sustaining regional growth.

Security cooperation is set to intensify, particularly in tackling transnational crime and strengthening protections for citizens across borders.

At the same time, people-to-people exchanges are expected to play a larger role, with expanded education programs, cultural initiatives, and tourism cooperation designed to strengthen regional ties.

Environmental protection is emerging as a central pillar of the new phase, with joint efforts to manage water resources, address air pollution, and promote sustainable development across the river basin.

As global uncertainties continue to shape the international landscape, LMC 2.0 is being positioned as an open and inclusive model of regional cooperation, focused on shared benefits and practical outcomes.

Officials say the next decade will be critical in transforming the Lancang-Mekong region into a more integrated, resilient, and sustainable economic corridor.

（Liu Ting, Director and Professor, International Collaboration Center, Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences & Chinese (Kunming) Academy of South and Southeast Asia Studies）

KPL