Building an Asian community of shared destiny

Last year, six countries through which one of the world's longest rivers runs agreed to establish the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework to coordinate development works and promote the well-being of the people living in the subregion. Given the Mekong River's rich biodiversity and the riparian zone's delicate environment, the framework will serve as an additional forum for consultations between upper and lower riparian countries.

China's decision to release water from its Jinghong Dam last week was hailed as a goodwill gesture that augurs well for the LMC meeting in Sanya, south China's Hainan province, on Wednesday when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is scheduled to meet the leaders from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The current dry season has led to drought in parts of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, where many people depend on agriculture and fishing. For instance, Vietnam's Mekong Delta region is facing severe drought, which has harmed rice and fruit productions.