(KPL) Laos and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation projects under the Mekong-Lan Chang River Special Fund.

The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Vientiane on July 16 between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Thongphane Savanphet, and Ambassador of China to the Lao PDR, Fang Hong in the presence of relevant officials.

As for 2024, the Lao PDR has been granted 10 projects worth over 2.66 million US dollars to that aim to support central and local governments in various areas such as agriculture, environment, water resources management, health, trade, capacity building, human resource development and tourism promotion.

The Mekong-Lan Chang River partnership was officially established on March 23, 2016 with the joint commitment of the Lao PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China to create a community of peace and prosperity.

The Mekong River-Lan Chang River cooperation framework has continued to be an important socio-economic cooperation platform to strengthen multilateral cooperation for shared benefits as well as jointly address regional challenges thus contributing to the building and implementing of ASEAN Community, the Belt and Road Initiative, North-South Cooperation and the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

In the same year, China announced the establishment of the Mekong-Lanchang River Special Fund with a goal of realizing the will and commitment of the above-mentioned Mekong-Lanchang River countries. 

Over the past eight years, the Lao PDR has received over 80 projects, amounting to more than 20 million US dollars, all of which have yielded positive results.

KPL