The Third Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on April 5th, 2018. High-level officials and representatives from member countries and dialogue and development Partners attended the Summit. Mr. E Jingping, Minister of Water Resources, as the head of the Chinese delegation, attended the Summit and delivered a speech.

　　Minister E Jingping expressed that Mekong River Commission (MRC), as one of the important mechanism for Mekong River Basin, has made great contribution to the cooperation among riparian countries and sub-regional economic and social development over the past years. China attaches great importance to the cooperative relationship with MRC. Both sides have strengthened mutual trust and understanding, and have carried out diversified, fruitful and pragmatic cooperation through long-term dialogue. The Langcang-Mekong River is the link between the upstream and downstream countries and riparian countries of the river are close neighbors enjoying a deep bond of cultural and people-to-people affinity and fostered sincere cooperation and coordination. Not only did it promote the economic cooperation and development in sub-regions, but also enhance cultural and educational exchanges, and further deepened traditional friendship. Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Mechanism will coordinate with existing mechanisms such as Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and MRC, promote mutual development, inject new energy into China-ASEAN cooperation. China is willing to work with MRC and all riparian countries to make LMC a pioneer version of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

　　Minister E Jingping introduced the China’s diplomatic policies with neighboring countries as outlined at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.  China will adhere to the path of peaceful development and push forward international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. We will endeavor to build a community with a shared future for mankind based on the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and a foreign policy of building friendship and partnership with neighboring countries. China will deepen its relationship with neighboring countries, and increase assistance to other developing countries, especially the least developed ones in order to narrow the North and South gap. China will contribute more wisdom, solutions and strength to the world and build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity, so that the whole world will benefit from the development of a community with a shared future for mankind.

　　Minister E Jingping proposed to foster sustainable development and common prosperity of Lancang-Mekong River Basin in three respects. First, strengthen the connectivity of the development strategies, further promote the Belt and Road Initiative with regional strategy for sustainable development of MRC, in order to achieve the added-value benefit through strategic cooperation and share the development dividend together. Second, enhance regional mechanism collaboration and make full use of existing sub-regional cooperation channels, consolidate the dialogue partners’ cooperation, build a community of shared future of Mekong countries for peace and prosperity. Third, boost practical cooperation. China stands ready to provide technical training to water professionals from Mekong countries, welcome mutual visits to up- and downstream hydrological stations and water facilities. In the meanwhile, we also encourage Chinese companies to participate in water development in Mekong countries, following the principle of sustainable development and win-win cooperation.

　　Lastly, minister E Jingping stated that China cherishes the traditional friendship and is willing to join hands with Lancang and Mekong riparian countries to embrace an even brighter future of sub-regional cooperation.

　　Siem Reap Declaration was adopted at the Summit. Mr. E Jingping also held a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen; and exchanged greetings with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.