VIENTIANE: Laos has received funding of more than US$3.31 million for seven development projects under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Special Fund 2026, supporting initiatives in human resource development, agriculture, water resources, public health and poverty alleviation.
The project agreements were signed on Tuesday (June 16) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a ceremony jointly organised by the ministry and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Laos.
The agreements, which form part of the ninth batch of projects funded under the MLC Special Fund, were signed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Maythong Thammavongsa on behalf of the Lao government and Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong on behalf of the Chinese government.
Representatives from relevant ministries and departments attended the ceremony as witnesses.
The newly approved projects are expected to contribute to Laos’ socio-economic development efforts while addressing priorities in capacity building, agricultural development, water management, healthcare services, and poverty reduction.
Established in 2016, the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation framework involves the six countries sharing the Mekong-Lancang River basin — Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China — with the aim of fostering peace, prosperity and sustainable development across the region.
The cooperation mechanism has become an important platform for promoting regional collaboration, supporting socio-economic development and addressing shared challenges.
It also complements broader regional and international initiatives, including Asean community-building efforts, the Belt and Road Initiative, South-South cooperation and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
China announced the establishment of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund in 2016, with implementation commencing in 2017 to support practical projects that advance the framework’s objectives.
Over the past decade, Laos has benefited from 100 projects financed through the fund, with total support exceeding US$26 million. The projects have been implemented across a range of sectors and have delivered tangible development outcomes.
Both Laos and China expressed confidence that the newly approved projects for 2026 will generate meaningful benefits for Laos’ socio-economic development and contribute to broader regional cooperation, while further strengthening ties under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation framework. - Vientiane Times/ANN
