Lancang-Mekong countries agreed on Wednesday to deepen security cooperation and intensify joint efforts against cross-border crime to safeguard regional peace, as they work to build a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future.
The commitments came at the 11th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Beijing, which was cochaired by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Senior officials from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar also attended the meeting.
Wang called for stepping up joint efforts to combat cross-border crime, including online gambling, telecom fraud, drug trafficking, counterfeiting and smuggling, and ensuring the continued success of the Safe Lancang-Mekong Operation and the joint patrol of the Mekong River.
The countries should firmly oppose external interference and attempts to provoke bloc confrontation, resist exclusive groupings and never allow a revival of militarism, he said.
Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the mechanism's first leaders' meeting, Wang said that Lancang-Mekong Cooperation has become a golden example of regional cooperation.
He attributed its growth to the six countries' commitment to good-neighborliness and a shared future, their focus on development and practical cooperation, dedication to benefiting people and upholding openness and inclusiveness, and courage to pursue innovation and pioneer new approaches.
According to Chinese figures, trade between China and the five Mekong countries exceeded $500 billion in 2025, up 150 percent from a decade ago, accounting for about half of China's total trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund has supported more than 1,000 development projects across the region.
Wang also called for closer exchanges and policy coordination, as well as the greater sharing of governance experience. Differences and disputes should be resolved through dialogue and consultation, while development cooperation should help strengthen security resilience, he added.
He urged the countries to better align their development strategies, deepen cooperation on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, and promote regional trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.
Wang called for stronger joint research, technical cooperation and personnel training, the establishment of a Lancang-Mekong poverty reduction cooperation center and more "small and beautiful" livelihood projects.
He advocated closer cooperation in emerging fields, including the digital economy, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing and smart agriculture, adding that China welcomes more Mekong countries to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization.
To improve disaster preparedness, Wang proposed establishing a cross-border disaster early-warning cooperation mechanism and a mechanism for the real-time exchange of hydrological, meteorological, geological and forest fire data.
Senior officials from the five Mekong countries commended China's leading role in advancing cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting the region's sustainable development and prosperity.
They pledged to strengthen coordination between Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and other regional mechanisms, uphold multilateralism and jointly address global challenges.
All sides agreed to maintain close communication to ensure the success of the fifth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting.
The ministerial meeting adopted the 2025 progress report on implementing the Five-Year Plan of Action on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (2023-27) and the 2026 list of projects supported by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund.
Du Lan, deputy director of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said that Lancang-Mekong Cooperation has demonstrated how developing countries can achieve shared development through cooperation on an equal footing.
