China urges Lancang-Mekong nations to oppose 'external interference'

China has urged its immediate five neighboring nations to “oppose external interference” as well as “incitement of bloc confrontation.”

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks while hosting 11th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Beijing on Wednesday, state-run Xinhua News reported.

The six Lancang-Mekong countries include China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and the LMC mechanism was established in 2016 – deriving its name from a river known as the Lancang in China and the Mekong in other nations.

Wang urged the LMC nations to build on their “fruitful cooperation” over the past decade and jointly usher in a new "golden decade."

He emphasized efforts to keep LMC at the “forefront of regional cooperation, make it a benchmark for Global South solidarity, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.”

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, Myanmar's Planning Minister Aung Kyaw Hoe and co-host Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow attended the meeting.

“Lancang-Mekong countries should strengthen top-level design on core issues such as regional development and security, enhance the alignment of development strategies, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and deliver more small and beautiful livelihood demonstration projects to give people a greater sense of gain,” he said.

The Chinese foreign minister highlighted importance among the LMC nations to expand cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing and smart agriculture.

He urged more Mekong countries to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), launched by China this year with its headquarter in Shanghai.

Wang, however, urged Lancang-Mekong countries to “oppose external interference and incitement of bloc confrontation, reject the creation of exclusive small circles, and never allow the resurgence of militarism, adding that the countries should step up joint efforts to combat cross-border crimes.”

He also proposed the LMC countries to promote cross-border disaster early-warning cooperation mechanism and jointly enhance disaster prevention, mitigation and relief capabilities.