On November 24, 2020, the 2020 Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (LMC) Media Online Summit hosted by People's Daily was held in Beijing. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee Huang Kunming and Myanmar Minister of Information Pe Myint delivered opening remarks via video links. Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui attended the opening ceremony, and delivered a keynote speech "Writing a New Chapter of Building a LMC Community with a Shared Future".

Luo Zhaohui said, this year is extraordinary. Amid the once-in-a-century changes, unprecedented pandemic, and China-US competition, the world is witnessing rising de-globalization, unilateralism, and instability and uncertainties. As an old saying goes, "The landscape here is beyond compare." China takes the lead in pandemic prevention and control and economic recovery, and its goal of building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects is within reach owing to remarkable achievements in poverty reduction.

LMC deepens despite the pandemic, and maintains the momentum of fast progress. At the 3rd LMC Leaders' Meeting held in late August this year, all parties reached a consensus on sharing water resources and aligning the LMC with the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. In the first three quarters, China and the Mekong countries grew their trade to 225.3 billion U.S. dollars, up 11 percent year on year. The six countries work together to fight the pandemic, actively resume work and production, and strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, which vividly reflects the LMC spirit of "shared river, shared future".

Over thousands of years, the two rivers have nurtured similar civilization and culture among the six countries. Despite late establishment, the LMC is featured by high starting point, fast development, solid foundation, and promising future. We should take responsibility for future generations, and follow the "3+5+X" framework to build an LMC economic belt and foster an LMC community with a shared future. Currently, we should prioritize cooperation in the following fields.

First, jointly combat the COVID-19. China is willing to work with the Mekong countries to deepen cooperation in COVID-19 response, leverage the special fund for public health, increase experience sharing and cooperation on vaccine R&D, strengthen cooperation in early warning on communicable diseases and traditional medicine, and unite to address non-traditional security challenges in public health and poverty alleviation.

Second, revive economy. Economic growth is always prioritized in the LMC. China is willing to work with all countries to implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, seek greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and development strategies in other countries, build a network of "fast tracks" and "green lanes" across the region to facilitate the flow of people and goods, deepen cooperation in border trade, cross-border e-commerce and industrial parks, and foster better subregional industrial and value chains, contributing the "LMC Plan" to regional economic cooperation.

Third, strengthen people-to-people bonds. Leveraging the LMC Special Fund, we should expand cooperation in education, agriculture, environmental protection, and tourism, tighten cultural and people-to-people ties, and advance popular support for the LMC, enabling more people to benefit from the LMC.

Fourth, uphold openness and inclusiveness. Rather than forming exclusionary blocks, the LMC is open to all initiatives and mechanisms conducive to regional development. We should promote interaction between the LMC and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program (GMS), and the Mekong River Commission (MRC), and actively explore cooperation with Japan, the ROK, the EU and other third parties for jointly driving subregional development.

At last, Luo emphasized, the media play an important role like a window, a bridge or a bond facilitating understanding, friendship and cooperation. The media from the six countries should leverage this Summit to tell the stories of the LMC, and spread friendship and culture, making concerted efforts in playing the symphony of the LMC, and securing a bright future for the people in the subregion.

The LMC is a new subregional cooperation platform jointly initiated by China and the Mekong countries, i.e. Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The LMC, established in 2016, aims to deepen good-neighborly relations and practical cooperation among the six countries, boost the economic and social development of subregional countries, develop an LMC economic belt, build an LMC community with a shared future, and support the ASEAN Community building and regional integration process.

The Summit has been held three times since 2017. It was held online and offline this year. President and Editor-in-chief of People's Daily Tuo Zhen, Deputy Head of International Department of the CPC Central Committee Qian Hongshan, and representatives from governments, media, and academic circles of the Mekong countries engaged in in-depth exchanges under the theme "Enhance Cooperation to Combat COVID-19 and Revive Economy". Other activities such as the award ceremony of "Splendid Lancang-Mekong" Photography Competition, the opening ceremony of 2020 Asian Mainstream Media Online Seminar, and the release of Visual System of International Communication "Silk Road Award" were also held.