Forging Lancang-Mekong Cooperation 2.0: Opening a new chapter of community with a shared future

Flowing through six countries, the Lancang-Mekong River is more than just a waterway — it is a bond connecting China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam in geography, civilization and shared destiny. Since the launch of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) mechanism in 2016, the six nations have forged ahead with pragmatic efforts, turning the vision of regional cooperation into concrete actions over the past decade. Now, standing at a new historical starting point, LMC is stepping into its 2.0 era, poised to write a new chapter of building a closer community with a shared future for peace and prosperity.

The past 10 years have witnessed the fruitful growth of LMC, which has evolved from a framework design to in-depth integration, becoming one of the most vibrant and promising regional cooperation mechanisms in Asia. Upholding the LMC spirit of "development first, equal consultation, pragmatism and efficiency, openness and inclusiveness," the six countries have built a three-dimensional cooperation structure highlighting "the leaders' guidance, all-round cooperation and broad participation." The trade volume between China and the five Mekong countries has doubled, with landmark infrastructure projects such as the China-Laos Railway and the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway operating steadily, and China-Thailand and China-Vietnam railway connectivity making solid progress. The "small yet beautiful" livelihood projects, including the LMC Bumper Harvest Projects and the Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Action, have brought tangible benefits to local people, laying a solid and popular foundation for cooperation. In addition, the six nations have jointly addressed non-traditional security challenges, carried out regular "Safe Lancang-Mekong" operations to crack down on cross-border crimes, and established mechanisms for disaster early warning and joint prevention and the control of infectious diseases, effectively safeguarding regional peace and stability. Cultural and people-to-people exchanges have flourished, with over 160 pairs of sister cities established and brand events like the Lancang-Mekong Cultural and Art Festival becoming bridges for mutual understanding, nurturing the LMC culture of equality, sincerity, mutual assistance and affinity.

The launch of LMC 2.0 is a strategic choice to adapt to the profound changes in the global landscape and to meet the common development needs of the six countries. At the 10th LMC Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Kunming, Yunnan province, in 2025, the six parties reached a consensus to build LMC 2.0, featuring unity and cooperation, openness and win-win outcomes, green innovation, as well as peace and tranquility, with the core concept of "safeguarding and developing the common home." This new phase is not just a continuation of past cooperation, but a comprehensive upgrade in mechanism, fields and connotation, centering on the vision of building a common home of peace, tranquility, prosperity, beauty and friendship, and exploring a new path of regional governance with joint construction, risk sharing and welfare sharing.

To advance LMC 2.0, the six countries are committed to four key pillars of cooperation. First, strengthening top-level design to steer the mechanism's development in the right direction. High-level strategic communication will be deepened, the LMC institutional system will be improved, and a push will be made for the establishment of the LMC International Secretariat, making cooperation more standardized and institutionalized. Focusing on key areas such as agriculture, water resources and environmental governance, the Lancang-Mekong River Basin Economic Development Belt will be further integrated with regional cooperation frameworks such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the ASEAN Community, unleashing synergy of regional linkage. Second, embracing innovative development to accelerate pragmatic cooperation. The real economy will be empowered with science and technology, cooperation mechanisms will be established in digital economy, artificial intelligence and technological innovation, and cooperation will be boosted in new energy fields such as energy storage, electric vehicles and photovoltaic power. By strengthening cooperation in customs, metrology and inspection and quarantine, the stability of regional industrial and supply chains will be solidified and economic integration will be advanced. Third, deepening law enforcement cooperation to safeguard regional harmony and stability. Leveraging the Lancang-Mekong ministerial meeting on law enforcement and security cooperation, a cooperation platform for protecting overseas citizens' safety will be built, joint efforts to combat cross-border crimes such as online gambling, telecom fraud and drug trafficking will be intensified, and the synergy of law enforcement and judicial cooperation will be enhanced. Fourth, enhancing people-to-people exchanges to boost good-neighborliness and friendship. The integration of culture and tourism will be deepened, cooperation in higher and vocational education will be expanded, and the number of scholarships and training opportunities for Mekong countries in China will be increased. More "small yet beautiful" projects will be launched to raise the visibility of LMC Special Fund projects and the people's sense of gain, turning people-to-people connectivity from a vision into a regular practice.

Green development is a defining feature of LMC 2.0, as the six countries strive to build a beautiful home with harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. The implementation of the Framework of Lancang-Mekong Environmental Cooperation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2027) and the steady progress of the Green Lancang-Mekong Initiative have laid a solid foundation for ecological cooperation. The expanding partnership network of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation and the Clean Air Initiative have provided financial and technical support for regional ecological protection through special funds, promoting a positive interaction between economic growth and environmental conservation. Water resources cooperation, a cornerstone of LMC, has entered a new stage of institutionalized and systematic development, with the six countries working together on flood and drought management, water resource allocation and joint research, turning the Lancang-Mekong River into a "river of peace and sustainable development."

In an era of rising unilateralism and protectionism, LMC 2.0 stands as a vivid practice of true multilateralism and open regionalism. It is not an exclusive bloc, but an open platform that adheres to the "3+5+X" cooperation system, welcoming all partners to participate in Lancang-Mekong cooperation and share development dividends. The LMC model, which prioritizes development, focuses on pragmatism and puts people at the center, provides a new option for developing countries to realize independent and sustainable development, and offers valuable insights for global governance reform, especially for cooperation among countries of the Global South.

The surging Lancang-Mekong River witnesses the profound transformation of the six countries from geographical neighbors to a community with a shared future. Over the past decade, LMC has proven that mutual respect, equality, consultation and win-win cooperation are the fundamental principles for resolving regional governance challenges and achieving common development. As we embark on a new golden decade of LMC 2.0, the six nations will continue to carry forward the LMC spirit, deepen the concept of "developing the common home," and expand cooperation in emerging fields such as digital economy and green energy. We will work hand in hand to turn the Lancang-Mekong region into a model for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, a pacesetter for implementing the Global Development Initiative, a pioneer for implementing the Global Security Initiative and a front-runner in implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, making LMC 2.0 a shining example of regional cooperation and contributing more to world peace and common development.

Liu Ting is a professor and the director of the International Collaboration Center at Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences and Chinese (Kunming) Academy of South and Southeast Asia Studies.

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