On June 14, the signing ceremony of the Agreement of Cooperation on Projects of LMC Special Fund (2024) was held in Naypyitaw. H.E. Mr. Chen Hai, Ambassador of China to Myanmar, and U Than Swe, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, delivered speeches. Ambassador Chen Hai and U Lwin Oo, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, signed the project agreement. Minister Counsellor Dr. Zheng Zhihong from the Embassy of China and several ministers from the executive ministries of Myanmar attended the ceremony.
Ambassador Chen Hai stated that the signing of the annual LMC project agreement with Myanmar is not only a significant way to implement the consensus reached at the Fourth LMC Leaders’ Meeting but also a vivid demonstration of the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Myanmar over the past 74 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. Myanmar is an important participant, promoter, and beneficiary of the LMC. Currently, facing the unprecedented changes unseen in a century and looking to the future of the region, we should further strengthen the LMC together and build a closer community with a shared future for LMC countries oriented towards peace and prosperity. China is willing to continue to implement LMC projects well with Myanmar to benefit Myanmar people with more cooperation outcomes.
On behalf of the government and people of Myanmar, U Than Swe thanked China for establishing the LMC Special Fund, which has effectively supported Myanmar’s economic, social, and livelihood sectors. Myanmar and China are traditional friendly neighbors who have jointly proposed the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in the past, with their everlasting friendship growing deeper over the 74 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, he said. The LMC mechanism is the most significant and successful mechanism of Mekong Cooperation. Myanmar is willing to work with LMC countries to uphold the original aspiration of “shared river, shared future” and jointly promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the LMC region.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Since 2018, 118 Myanmar projects of 7 batches are supported by the LMC Special Fund, and Myanmar gets the most projects in Mekong countries. The 12 projects signed this time will support Myanmar in various fields such as agriculture, poverty reduction, trade, and innovation and improve people’s livelihoods in Myanmar.