[Commentary] The six Lancang-Mekong countries drink the same river water, and their destiny is closely linked.
Recently, the Green Lancang-Mekong Plan: Lancang-Mekong Green Low-Carbon and Sustainable Infrastructure Roundtable Dialogue was held in Beijing. Experts gathered to discuss the topic of Lancang-Mekong environmental cooperation.
[Explanation] Since the launch of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation, positive progress has been made in many fields, and it has become the most dynamic and potential sub-regional cooperation mechanism.
Currently, Lancang-Mekong countries are facing uncertain challenges brought by climate change, and it is urgent to further strengthen regional sustainable infrastructure cooperation.
[Concurrent] Li Xia, Director of Lancang-Mekong Environmental Cooperation Center/China Ministry of Ecology and Environment Foreign Cooperation and Exchange Center
What is sustainable infrastructure?
To explain in the most common language, it is the infrastructure of coordinated governance between economic development, social progress and environmental protection. ).
As a very important cross-cutting scientific element, the environment is actually closely related to development issues.
Now there are mainly three core areas, dealing with climate change, biodiversity protection, and marine debris.
In fact, I believe that every country is considering how to make its own infrastructure more resilient, resilient, and able to adapt to the current overall climate change.
[Explanation] How to help countries build climate resilience infrastructure and deepen Lancang-Mekong environmental cooperation.
Experts believe that capital investment, knowledge sharing, project demonstration and other aspects can be started.
[Concurrent] Fang Li, Chief Representative of the Beijing Representative Office of the World Resources Institute
The common challenge faced by the six Lancang-Mekong countries is how to achieve a fair and more effective transition and how to readjust our economic and energy structure.
Fiscal and financial support, support for our more resilient infrastructure, grid upgrades, investment in renewable energy, and more.
[Concurrent] San Oo, Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Myanmar
Countries should cooperate strategically.
Low-carbon and green development. From this perspective, we need to share knowledge and provide technical assistance. Only in this way can we create a relevant roadmap.
[Concurrent] Li Xia, Director of Lancang-Mekong Environmental Cooperation Center/China Ministry of Ecology and Environment Foreign Cooperation and Exchange Center
It is hoped that each country can contribute its own program so that there will be better exchanges among the six countries.
In fact, many people in the past have been asking whether international cooperation should mainly focus on (round-table) dialogue and capacity building, but I believe that the Lancang-Mekong cooperation has forged a different path. There are many small but beautiful ones, especially the emphasis on people to people (between people) community-based projects.
[Explanation] In recent years, with the joint efforts of the six Lancang-Mekong countries, demonstration projects such as green, low-carbon and sustainable infrastructure sharing platforms, ecological schools, and climate messengers have achieved remarkable results, and the Lancang-Mekong environmental cooperation will be more in-depth in the future.
[Concurrent] Zhou Jun, Director of the Asia-Africa Division of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China
Last year (2021), the six Lancang-Mekong foreign ministers jointly issued the "Joint Statement on Strengthening Lancang-Mekong Countries' Sustainable Development Cooperation", which also proposed to jointly build a Lancang-Mekong green, low-carbon and sustainable infrastructure sharing platform.
[Concurrent] Chen Zhihua, Director of the External Cooperation and Exchange Division, Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China
In the Mekong region, we have signed cooperation documents with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and other countries to provide environmental monitoring equipment, solar photovoltaic power generation systems (etc.).
I am very happy to tell you that next week, the Saisetta Low Carbon Demonstration Zone jointly built by us and Laos will be officially inaugurated. These measures will effectively promote the Mekong countries to improve their ability to deal with climate change.
[Concurrent] Li Yonghong, Deputy Director of the Foreign Cooperation and Exchange Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China
2022 marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the Lancang-Mekong Environmental Cooperation Center, and it is also the final year of our first phase of the Lancang-Mekong Environmental Cooperation Strategy.
We will continue to do a good job of coordination, determine priority cooperation areas and action frameworks in the next five years according to the actual conditions of each country, expand more practical cooperation, and help the region implement the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Reporter Cheng Yu reports from Beijing
Responsible editor: [He Sanli]