(Phnom Penh): Cambodia and China officially launched the second edition of “Mekong-Lancang Peace Boat Programme”, a week-long initiative aimed at promoting peace, regional connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges among the six Mekong-Lancang countries.

Supported by the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Special Fund 2025 of China and organised by the Asian Vision Institute (AVI), the programme was launched aboard a cruise vessel on Phnom Penh's Chaktomuk River under the theme "Mekong for the People, Peace, and Prosperity."

The opening ceremony was presided over by Suos Yara, Chairman of the National Assembly's Commission on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Information, and Head of Cambodia's Parliamentary Group of Young Parliamentarians, Chheng Kimlong, President of the Asian Vision Institute (AVI), and Wang Wenbin, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Cambodia.

The programme brings together government officials, diplomats, policymakers, scholars, researchers, and journalists from Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam to deepen understanding of Mekong affairs, strengthen regional cooperation, and foster academic and cultural exchanges.

In his welcoming remarks, Chheng Kimlong said the initiative provides a valuable platform for participants to broaden their knowledge of regional and international affairs while expanding professional networks and promoting harmony and peaceful coexistence.

Ambassador Wang Wenbin said the programme, revived with support from the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, creates meaningful opportunities for dialogue and exchanges among young people from the six member countries. He noted that 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting, giving this year's programme added significance as the cooperation mechanism enters a new phase of development.

In his keynote address, Suos Yara said the programme would further strengthen friendship and cooperation among Lancang-Mekong member countries. He highlighted that Cambodia has benefited from 100 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation projects worth more than USD 30 million over the past decade, covering areas such as human resource development, environmental protection, energy, and food security.

Running from 5 to 11 August, the programme will travel along the Mekong River through Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham, and Kratie, providing around 25 participants with firsthand exposure to regional development, Mekong affairs, and sustainable cooperation.
=FRESH NEWS