“The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation” (LMC) is a sub-regional cooperation mechanism jointly established by Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China in order to promote regional economic and social development and to improve people’s well-being. LMC is an important approach for six countries to join forces in developing the ASEAN Community, facilitating South-South cooperation, and implementing of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with far-reaching significance for regional prosperity and stability.
On March 23rd, 2016, the First Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Summit was successfully held in Sanya, Hainan, which marked the official launch of The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism. This meeting:
• Issued the Sanya Declaration and the Joint Statement on Production Capacity Cooperation Among Lancang-Mekong Countries
• Approved the Joint List of the 45 LMC Initial Projects
• Established the “3+5 cooperation framework”
On January 10, 2018, the second LMC meeting was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The meeting released the "five-year action plan (2018-2022)" and the "second summit meeting Phnom Penh Declaration", as well as the "second list of cooperation projects" and "joint working group report concerning six priority areas", upgrading the "3+5 Cooperation Framework” to “3+5+X Cooperation Framework”, focusing on cooperation in water resources, production capacity, agriculture, human resources, health-care, etc., promoting LMC from birth to growth, so as to make greater contributions to regional development and the well-being of the people in 6 countries.
In response to the call for regional cooperation and shared development, SFIEC brought together diverse stakeholders to carry out Shenzhen x Lancang-Mekong Initiative and Action Plan.
Following the principle of "utilizing Shenzhen's experience and stories to inspire the economic and social development of countries along the Mekong River, and improve local people's daily life with Shenzhen advanced products and technology", SFIEC provides all-round support of project planning and supervision, resource alignment, pilot projects and promotion programs for enterprises, colleges and universities, think tanks and social organizations to facilitate cooperation in poverty reduction, production capacity cooperation and youth exchanges, etc.
From 2017, in cooperation with the Belt and Road International Cooperation and Development (Shenzhen) Research Institute and the Shenzhen University China Special Economic Zones Research Center, SFIEC has organized 7 seminars and trainings for a total of 200 government officials responsible for economic and social development, institutional representative and companies’ management personnel in the Mekong River countries. Shenzhen’s experience in economic zone design planning, investment promotion, industry cluster, and talents and staffing were also shared during those occasions.
Combining efforts from the Vanke Foundation and notable Shenzhen PV enterprises, the SFIEC worked with governments and public interest organizations along the Mekong River to pilot distributed photovoltaic power generation technology and application, in order to address local challenges like shortage of power and power supply facilities as well as high cost of residential electricity. From 2017 to date, 900 cases have been or will be completed in Cambodia and Myanmar, with up to 24,000 direct beneficiaries, a total installation amount of 300 and total power supply of 70,000 Watt-hours (Wh), reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 35.4 tons. In addition of improvement on local livelihood, the project has become one of viable alternate solutions to help those countries achieve the SDG of “low-cost and clean energy”, and drive towards the SDG of “decent jobs and economic growth”. With support at home and abroad, the Sunshine Village is going further with respect to localization, socialization and scale.
In support of the Shenzhen Yu Panglin Charity Foundation to conduct oversea charitable activities, 17 cataract screenings were organized in Cambodia, in which 150 qualified patients received surgery free of charge. In addition, 500 people with vision problems were given a dioptric lens. These activities helped impoverished local people with eye diseases to regain their vision and promote good health and well-being.