Lancang-Mekong leaders' meeting central to agenda

China will expand cooperation with countries along the Mekong River in water resources, production capacity, agriculture and medical care as Premier Li Keqiang is scheduled to attend the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting during a two-day trip to Cambodia.

Li is to attend the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting and pay an official visit to Cambodia from Wednesday to Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Thursday.

Li will co-chair the meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and join leaders from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam in reviewing cooperative achievements and exchanging views on ties in the future, the spokesman said.

The first such meeting was chaired by Li in March in Sanya, Hainan province, after the annual meeting of Boao Forum for Asia.

Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said at a news briefing on Thursday that Premier Li's visit will be the first diplomatic trip by a Chinese leader to a neighboring country this year.

The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting was proposed by Li in 2014 during the 17th China-ASEAN leaders' meeting in Myanmar.

The six countries have expanded cooperation in fields such as connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economy and energy, Kong said.

A special fund was initiated last year to support 162 projects and 11 production capacity projects are under construction, he said.

In the first 10 months of last year, China's trade with the other five countries hit $177 billion, up by 15.6 percent compared with the same period in 2016. Each week, more than 2,500 flights are flown between the six countries.

Lancang-Mekong cooperation is a vital part of China's ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and China will continue supporting ASEAN in building a regional community, Kong said.

During his official visit to Cambodia, the premier will meet Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and have talks with Hun on bilateral cooperation, Geng said.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Cambodia, and the two have maintained political trust and firmly supported each others' core interests, Kong said.

Li and Cambodian leaders will exchange views on international and regional issues and the two countries will sign cooperative agreements in fields such as agriculture, technologies and infrastructure, Kong said.

"Leaders from both countries are expected to further consolidate friendship and the comprehensive strategic partnership," the vice-minister added.

huyongqi@chinadaily.com.cn