2024年，是澜沧江—湄公河合作启动的第八年。作为流域内首个由中国、柬埔寨、老挝、缅甸、泰国、越南六国共商共建共享的次区域合作机制，澜湄合作在短短8年时间里蓬勃发展，成为最具活力和发展潜力的次区域合作机制，为促进区域繁荣振兴、增进各国民众福祉作出积极贡献。近日，在接受中国日报采访时，中国国际问题研究院副院长刘卿分享了澜湄合作的丰硕成果与成功经验。
记者：澜湄合作8年来，取得了哪些成果？第一个是高层引领，政治互信达到了高水平。六国的领导人高层交往非常的密切，澜湄一家亲。高层的交往非常的频密，深化了政治互信。第二个是务实合作。比如互联互通，跨境经济合作，水资源和农业减贫方面的合作。这些务实合作取得了丰硕的成果。中老铁路就是互联互通的标志性工程。目前，泰国、越南是也在设计规划铁路和中国进行联通。第三个是民生改善。普通老百姓从澜湄合作中受益，民生明显得到改善。“甘泉行动”使数百个村庄喝上干净饮用水，“太阳村项目”照亮了千万家，高铁对接、机场联通、数字赋能，跑出了现代化的澜湄加速度。第四个是民间交流。当然以前各国也有交流，但是通过澜湄这个平台，从智库交往，到旅游，到教育，这些方面的民间交流都得到了极大的提升，可以说澜湄合作拉近了六国人民之间的距离。记者：澜湄合作在促进区域一体化方面，有哪些值得借鉴的地方？在推进澜湄国家命运共同体建设方面，我们有远景的目标，也有具体的规划，还充足的资金支持。六国之间通过机制性的合作，已形成了一种合作的文化和合作的意识。“共饮一江水，亲如一家人”。资金支持方面，中方设立了澜湄合作专项基金来支持各项项目合作。澜湄合作八年以来，已经有700多个合作项目。澜湄合作计划性很强。澜湄合作第一个五年行动计划已经完成，现在又进入了2023到2027年第二个五年行动计划。记者：可否给我们介绍一下，澜湄合作已经促成了哪些具体的成果或项目？如何期待澜湄合作的未来？澜湄六国本着互利共赢、共谋发展的初心，共商、共建、共享澜湄合作平台，取得了一系列务实成果。中老铁路、中泰铁路、暹粒国际机场等互联互通项目为区域经贸和人员往来装上加速器。澜湄合作专项基金支持实施了“丰收澜湄”、澜湄甘泉行动计划、绿色澜湄计划等数百个造福民生的合作项目，为各国人民带来实实在在的福祉。展望未来，中国将继续推进与流域国家就推进澜湄合作，共同打造高质量共建“一带一路”示范区、全球发展倡议先行区、全球安全倡议实验区、全球文明倡议首善区，携手建设人民相知相亲、邻里互帮互助、共同发展繁荣的澜湄命运共同体。Lancang-Mekong Cooperation: Journey so farThe year 2024 marks the 8th anniversary of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. As the first sub-regional cooperation mechanism in the basin jointly built and shared by 6 countries, namely China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, the cooperation has flourished in just eight years, becoming the most dynamic and promising sub-regional cooperation mechanism, making positive contributions to promoting regional prosperity and revitalization, and enhancing the well-being of the people of all countries.Recently, Liu Qing, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, shared the achievements and experiences of the cooperation in an interview with China Daily.Liu Qing, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing.Q: What are the achievements of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation over the past 8 years?A: First, with high-level meetings and exchanges, political trust has reached a new level. The leaders of the six countries have very close high-level exchanges, and the Lancang-Mekong region has become more like a family.The second is practical cooperation. For example, in areas such as connectivity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources, and agricultural poverty reduction. These practical cooperation have achieved fruitful results. The China-Laos Railway is a landmark project. Currently, Thailand and Vietnam are also planning railway connections with China.The third is improving people's livelihoods. Ordinary people benefit from Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and their livelihoods have significantly improved. The Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Action has provided clean drinking water to hundreds of villages, the "Lancang-Mekong Bright Journey" has restored sight to hundreds and thousands of cataract patients, and the "Sun Village along Mekong River" project has illuminated millions of households. High-speed rail connections, airport linkages, digital empowerment have accelerated the modernization of the Lancang-Mekong region.The fourth is people-to-people exchanges. Of course, there were exchanges between countries in the past, but through the cooperation platform, exchanges in various aspects such as think tanks, tourism, and education have been greatly enhanced. It can be said that Lancang-Mekong Cooperation has brought the people of the six countries closer together.Q: In promoting regional integration, what aspects of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation are worth learning from?A: In promoting the building of a community with shared future for Lancang-Mekong countries, we have clear outlook, specific plans, and ample financial support.Through institutionalized cooperation among the six countries, a culture of collaboration and cooperative consciousness has been formed. In terms of financial support, China has established the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund to support various project collaborations. Over the past 8 years of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, there have been over 700 cooperative projects. The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation is highly planned. The first five-year action plan of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation has been completed, and now it has entered the second five-year action plan from 2023 to 2027.Q: Can you introduce us to the specific achievements or projects that have been facilitated by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation? What are the expectations for the future of the cooperation?A: Lancang-Mekong Cooperation is the first new sub-regional cooperation mechanism jointly initiated and launched by the six Lancang-Mekong countries. Over the past eight years since its launch, the six countries have built up consensus and worked together at the cooperation platform in the spirit of mutual benefit for common development, and achieved a number of practical outcomes. Connectivity projects such as the China-Laos Railway, the China-Thailand Railway and the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport have boosted the region’s trade and cross-border travel, doubling the annual trade volume between China and the Mekong countries over the past eight years. The LMC Special Fund has supported hundreds of livelihood cooperation projects, including the LMC Bumper Harvest Projects, the Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Action, and the Green Lancang-Mekong Initiative, bringing tangible benefits to the people of these countries.Looking forward, China will continue to strengthen the cooperation with Mekong countries, and jointly make the region an exemplar for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, a pacesetter for implementing the Global Development Initiative, a pioneer for implementing the Global Security Initiative, and a frontrunner for implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, and build a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future that enjoys close people-to-people bond, mutual help and common prosperity.