On November 24th, the 2022 Sichuan-Chongqing ＆ Mekong Countries Sub-national Cooperation Forum was held in Yibin, under the theme of “Win-win in the New Era Empowered by the Shared River”, cohosted by People’s Government of Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipal People’s Government and organized by the People’s Government of Yibin,Sichuan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office and Chongqing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. Representatives from diplomatic representative agencies and local governments of Mekong countries, relevant departments, universities, think tanks, associations and enterprises attended the forum both online and offline.

During the opening ceremony, Yang Hongbo, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial People’s Congress, Wang Fukang, Ambassador of the Department of Asian Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre(ACC), Wang Wen, Directer-General of Chongqing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, Liao Wenbin, Major of Yinbin, Woramon Sinsuwan, Thailand’s Acting Consul-General to Chengdu, and Natapa Suvanbati, Governor of Suphan Buri Province of Thailand delivered speeches at the forum respectively.

2022年11月24日，由四川省人民政府和重慶市人民政府主辦，宜賓市人民政府、四川省外事辦公室和重慶市人民政府外事辦公室承辦的2022年川渝地區(qū)—湄公河國家地方合作論壇在四川宜賓市成功舉行。論壇主題為“同飲一江水·共贏新時代”，來自湄公河國家駐華機構(gòu)、地方政府，以及四川省、重慶市相關(guān)部門、高校、智庫、協(xié)會、企業(yè)的代表以線上線下相結(jié)合的方式參加論壇。

開幕式上，四川省人大常委會副主任楊洪波、外交部亞洲司大使王?？?、中國—東盟中心秘書長史忠俊、重慶市人民政府外事辦公室主任王雯、宜賓市市長廖文彬，泰國駐成都代總領(lǐng)事萬蘭夢、泰國素攀武里府府尹納塔帕·蘇萬巴提等分別致辭。

The 2022 Sichuan-Chongqing ＆ Mekong Countries Sub-national Cooperation Forum was held.2022年川渝地區(qū)—湄公河國家地方合作論壇現(xiàn)場。

Yang Hongbo said in his speech: “The Sichuan-Chongqing ＆ Mekong Countries Sub-national Cooperation Forum is a practical initiative to open a new chapter of cooperation between the Sichuan-Chongqing region and Mekong countries. It will boost all-round and multi-area exchanges between the two regions.” Sichuan Province is ready to work with Chongqing to seize the opportunities of Lancang-Mekong cooperation and work together with Mekong countries to promote the overall development and revitalization of the sub-region, and make positive efforts for the well-being of the people.

“The six Lancang-Mekong countries drink water from the same river and are as close as one family,” Wang Fukang said. Lancang-Mekong Cooperation(LMC) has developed rapidly and achieved remarkable results, successfully setting a “golden example” of regional cooperation. As the important province and centrally-administered municipality in western China, Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality sit close to and exchange frequently with Mekong countries, enjoying sound basis for cooperation and regional advantage. We expect all parties to carry out extensive exchanges and focus on development and cooperation in a bid to contribute to the development of Lancang-Mekong economic belt and closer Lancang-Mekong Community of Shared Future.

“Since its launch six years ago, The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism has made prominent progress including in mechanism building,strategic planning, financial support, and pragmatic cooperation, bringing concrete benefits for people in the six Lancang-Mekong countries and contributing to China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership.” Shi Zhongjun hoped that Sichuan-Chongqing ＆ Mekong Countries should build consensus, strengthen solidarity and cooperation based on the new platform of the Forum, deepening Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.

Wang Wen said that with the goal of promoting the construction of an international exchange center in the central and western regions,Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office has actively explored new paths for Chongqing to integrate itself into Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and has achieved deliverable results of practical cooperation with Mekong countries.Chongqing and Sichuan share close bonds and cooperate for great synergy.Following President Xi Jinping’s important instructions on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, Chongqing stands ready to join hands with Sichuan and Lancang-Mekong countries to work in the six key directions of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation as discussed by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and work to build the Forum into an important platform for exchanges and cooperation in the development and planning of Lancang-Mekong countries and the coordinated development between Sichuan and Chongqing. Chongqing is looking forward to welcoming guests from home and abroad to the city in 2023.

The Consulate-General of Myanmar in Chongqing, the Consulate-General of Cambodia in Kunming, and the Trade Promotion Office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam in Chongqing also sent letters to express their warm congratulations on the convening of the forum.

During the forum, experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs from relevant departments, universities, think tanks, associations, and companies in Sichuan and Chongqing such as Southwest University delivered speeches on the exchanges and cooperation between Sichuan, Chongqing and Mekong countries in the fields of “education”, “economy and trade” and “interconnectivity”.

The forum also held an exhibition of exchanges and cooperation achievements between Sichuan, Chongqing and Mekong countries and a series of project signing and unveiling ceremonies, showcasing the achievements of cooperation between Sichuan, Chongqing, Yibin and Mekong countries in agriculture, education, economy and trade, inter-connectivity, information technology, and international sister cities in recent years.

Source/Official WeChat Account of Chongqing Foreign Affairs

“川渝地區(qū)—湄公河國家地方合作論壇是一項為川渝地區(qū)與湄公河國家開啟合作新航程的務(wù)實舉措，必將為兩地全方位多領(lǐng)域交流加足馬力?！睏詈椴ū硎?，四川省愿與重慶市一道緊抓瀾湄合作機遇，同湄公河國家共同推進次區(qū)域整體發(fā)展和振興，共同為人民福祉作出積極努力。

“瀾湄六國共飲一江水，親如一家人?！蓖醺？当硎荆瑸戜睾献靼l(fā)展迅速、成果顯著，成功打造了區(qū)域合作的“金色樣板”。四川省、重慶市是中國西南地區(qū)的重要省市，同湄公河國家地緣相近、交往密切，具備良好合作基礎(chǔ)和區(qū)位優(yōu)勢。期待各方廣泛交流、聚集發(fā)展、聚集合作，為推動建設(shè)瀾湄流域經(jīng)濟發(fā)展帶、構(gòu)建更加緊密的瀾湄國家命運共同體作出積極努力。

“瀾湄合作機制啟動六年來，機制建設(shè)、戰(zhàn)略規(guī)劃、資金支持、務(wù)實合作均取得顯著進展，給六國人民帶來了實實在在的利益，也為中國東盟全面戰(zhàn)略伙伴關(guān)系發(fā)展作出了積極貢獻。”史忠俊期待，川渝地區(qū)與湄公河國家能借助論壇新平臺凝聚共識，加強團結(jié)合作，為推動瀾湄合作深化發(fā)展貢獻新力量。

王雯表示，重慶市政府外辦以推動建設(shè)中西部國際交往中心為目標，積極思考重慶融入瀾湄合作的新路徑，與湄公河國家的務(wù)實合作不斷取得新成效。巴蜀一家親，川渝一盤棋。重慶愿與四川以及瀾湄國家各方一道，按照習近平主席對瀾湄合作的重要指示要求，圍繞王毅外長所談的瀾湄合作未來六個重點方向，攜手并進，努力把論壇打造成為瀾湄國家發(fā)展規(guī)劃和川渝兩地協(xié)同發(fā)展的重要交流合作平臺。歡迎中外嘉賓2023年相聚重慶。

此外，緬甸駐重慶總領(lǐng)事館、柬埔寨駐昆明總領(lǐng)事館、越南工貿(mào)部駐重慶貿(mào)易促進辦公室還發(fā)來賀信，對論壇的召開表示熱烈祝賀。

論壇期間，來自西南大學等川渝兩地相關(guān)部門、高校、智庫、協(xié)會、企業(yè)的專家、學者和企業(yè)家圍繞川渝地區(qū)與湄公河國家在“教育”“經(jīng)貿(mào)”“互聯(lián)互通”領(lǐng)域的交流合作進行了交流發(fā)言。

論壇現(xiàn)場還舉辦了川渝地區(qū)與湄公河國家交流合作成果展、項目集中簽約和揭牌儀式，展示了近年來四川省、重慶市、宜賓市與湄公河國家在農(nóng)業(yè)、教育、經(jīng)貿(mào)、互聯(lián)互通、信息技術(shù)、國際友城等多領(lǐng)域合作成果。