Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung proposed building a resilient and innovative Mekong–Lancang region while strengthening regional connectivity and cooperation in addressing non-traditional security challenges at the 11th Lancang–Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Beijing on Wednesday.
Officials from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam attended.
Trung said the region has development opportunities despite global and regional challenges. Advances in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, the green transition and supply-chain restructuring are opening new development space, helping countries improve adaptability, use complementary strengths and strengthen connectivity and integration.
He noted positive results from the Mekong–Lancang Cooperation Action Plan for 2023–2027 and said its potential and achievements should become practical, long-term development drivers benefiting member countries.
He proposed strengthening regional connectivity, coordination between MLC and other regional mechanisms, cooperation on non-traditional security challenges, and placing people at the centre of MLC.
Ministers welcomed progress since the 10th meeting in August 2025, including the action plan, trade growth and projects financed by the MLC Special Fund.
They noted advances in hydrological information sharing, flood and drought response, environmental protection, law enforcement, combating transnational crime, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges. They agreed future priorities for security, economic development and residents’ quality of life.
That day, Trung held talks with Wang Yi, a Politburo member, director of the Office of the Commission for Foreign Affairs of the CPC Central Committee and China's foreign minister.
The sides welcomed progress in relations between the two parties and countries, especially high-level exchanges. Their top leaders have made three reciprocal visits in two years, most recently President To Lam’s state visit to China in April 2026.
They agreed to implement top-level agreements in line with six major orientations and prepare high-level exchanges, including the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in China and APEC Year 2027 in Vietnam.
Trung congratulated China on the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and briefed Wang on Vietnam’s development policies and socio-economic achievements.
He proposed accelerating three railway cooperation projects, developing smart border gates, expanding imports of Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products, and promoting balanced, sustainable trade.
He also called for stronger cooperation in energy, education, high-quality human resources training and people-to-people exchanges, and effective implementation of the Vietnam–China Tourism Cooperation Year 2026–2027.
Wang congratulated Vietnam on the fourth plenary session of the 14th CPV Central Committee and reaffirmed China’s support for Vietnam’s development goals.
He said China was ready to work with Vietnam to increase strategic exchanges, improve cooperation effectiveness and strengthen people-to-people links.
The sides agreed to properly manage their land border, build peaceful and developing border areas, manage differences and peacefully settle maritime issues under international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS. They said this would contribute to peace, cooperation and development.
During his stay, Trung also met Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn.
Sources: Viet Nam News
