China News Kunming, March 26 – A decade of cooperation along the Lancang River-Mekong River has fostered a sense of community among nations sharing the waterway, as highlighted by recent discussions in Kunming.
The “Lancang-Mekong Vision” themed salon, held March 25th as part of Yunnan Province’s 2026 “Lancang-Mekong Week,” brought together representatives from countries in the Lancang River-Mekong River region to share stories of collaboration.
“I am a direct participant and witness to the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation,” said Lu Guangsheng, Dean of the School of International Relations at Yunnan University and Director of the Lancang-Mekong Sub-regional Research Center. He explained that since the launch of Greater Mekong Subregion economic cooperation in 1992, collaboration between China and Mekong River countries has expanded from the economic sphere to encompass political, security, and social development, forming a comprehensive “3+5+X” cooperation framework.
The “Lancang-Mekong Vision” themed salon took place in Kunming on March 25th. Li Jiaxian photographed the event.
Lu Guangsheng noted that over the past decade, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation has evolved from government-led interstate cooperation to encompass all levels of society and integrate into the daily lives of ordinary citizens. Thousands of students from Mekong River countries are now studying in Yunnan, numerous small-scale but impactful projects are being implemented in rural areas, cooperation on poverty reduction and vocational education continues to deepen, and the positive effects of the China-Laos Railway are expanding. This broadening scope, he said, has made the cooperation resilient and sustainable.
Speaking about the achievements of the China-Laos Railway collaboration, Anode Paiketsong, Deputy General Manager of the China-Laos Railway Co., Ltd., proudly stated, “The China-Laos Railway has propelled Laos into a new era of connectivity.” Since its launch over four years ago, the railway has transported passengers from over 100 countries and regions, becoming a vital link connecting Laos with Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and major cities in China.
Paiketsong added that the railway is also attracting investment and fostering the development of new logistics hubs and industrial parks along its route. “In the future, we want to develop each station into a new landmark for the city, making this corridor a platform for shared prosperity.”
Ouen Ti, Deputy Governor of Preah Vihear Province, Siem Reap, Cambodia, participated in the China-Cambodia “Loving Heart” project. For the past eight years, he and the project team have visited numerous schools in Cambodia, screening over 80,000 children for congenital heart disease. Many diagnosed children have been safely transported to Kunming for treatment.
Ouen Ti shared the story of Pengsella, a child diagnosed with congenital heart disease in 2017 who received free treatment in Kunming in 2018. “He is now a university student!” In 2025, Ouen Ti brought Pengsella and other children who had received treatment back to Kunming to express their gratitude to the doctors and social workers at Yunnan Provincial Fuwai Hospital. “Seeing their smiles, I felt the power of love that transcends borders, and Here’s the warmest footnote of our shared future,” he said.
“This is not only a medical aid project, but also a bridge of friendship connecting the people of Cambodia and China, allowing people from both countries to become ‘one family’ across borders,” Ouen Ti concluded. (End)
