四川省、重庆市合作举办2022年川渝地区—湄公河国家地方合作论坛

On November 24th, the 2022 Sichuan-Chongqing ＆ Mekong Countries Sub-national Cooperation Forum was held in Yibin, under the theme of “Win-win in the New Era Empowered by the Shared River”, cohosted by People’s Government of Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipal People’s Government and organized by the People’s Government of Yibin,Sichuan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office and Chongqing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. Representatives from diplomatic representative agencies and local governments of Mekong countries, relevant departments, universities, think tanks, associations and enterprises attended the forum both online and offline.

During the opening ceremony, Yang Hongbo, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial People’s Congress, Wang Fukang, Ambassador of the Department of Asian Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre(ACC), Wang Wen, Directer-General of Chongqing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, Liao Wenbin, Major of Yinbin, Woramon Sinsuwan, Thailand’s Acting Consul-General to Chengdu, and Natapa Suvanbati, Governor of Suphan Buri Province of Thailand delivered speeches at the forum respectively.

2022年11月24日，由四川省人民政府和重庆市人民政府主办，宜宾市人民政府、四川省外事办公室和重庆市人民政府外事办公室承办的2022年川渝地区—湄公河国家地方合作论坛在四川宜宾市成功举行。论坛主题为“同饮一江水·共赢新时代”，来自湄公河国家驻华机构、地方政府，以及四川省、重庆市相关部门、高校、智库、协会、企业的代表以线上线下相结合的方式参加论坛。

开幕式上，四川省人大常委会副主任杨洪波、外交部亚洲司大使王福康、中国—东盟中心秘书长史忠俊、重庆市人民政府外事办公室主任王雯、宜宾市市长廖文彬，泰国驻成都代总领事万兰梦、泰国素攀武里府府尹纳塔帕·苏万巴提等分别致辞。

The 2022 Sichuan-Chongqing ＆ Mekong Countries Sub-national Cooperation Forum was held.2022年川渝地区—湄公河国家地方合作论坛现场。

Yang Hongbo said in his speech: “The Sichuan-Chongqing ＆ Mekong Countries Sub-national Cooperation Forum is a practical initiative to open a new chapter of cooperation between the Sichuan-Chongqing region and Mekong countries. It will boost all-round and multi-area exchanges between the two regions.” Sichuan Province is ready to work with Chongqing to seize the opportunities of Lancang-Mekong cooperation and work together with Mekong countries to promote the overall development and revitalization of the sub-region, and make positive efforts for the well-being of the people.

“The six Lancang-Mekong countries drink water from the same river and are as close as one family,” Wang Fukang said. Lancang-Mekong Cooperation(LMC) has developed rapidly and achieved remarkable results, successfully setting a “golden example” of regional cooperation. As the important province and centrally-administered municipality in western China, Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality sit close to and exchange frequently with Mekong countries, enjoying sound basis for cooperation and regional advantage. We expect all parties to carry out extensive exchanges and focus on development and cooperation in a bid to contribute to the development of Lancang-Mekong economic belt and closer Lancang-Mekong Community of Shared Future.

“Since its launch six years ago, The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism has made prominent progress including in mechanism building,strategic planning, financial support, and pragmatic cooperation, bringing concrete benefits for people in the six Lancang-Mekong countries and contributing to China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership.” Shi Zhongjun hoped that Sichuan-Chongqing ＆ Mekong Countries should build consensus, strengthen solidarity and cooperation based on the new platform of the Forum, deepening Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.

Wang Wen said that with the goal of promoting the construction of an international exchange center in the central and western regions,Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office has actively explored new paths for Chongqing to integrate itself into Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and has achieved deliverable results of practical cooperation with Mekong countries.Chongqing and Sichuan share close bonds and cooperate for great synergy.Following President Xi Jinping’s important instructions on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, Chongqing stands ready to join hands with Sichuan and Lancang-Mekong countries to work in the six key directions of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation as discussed by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and work to build the Forum into an important platform for exchanges and cooperation in the development and planning of Lancang-Mekong countries and the coordinated development between Sichuan and Chongqing. Chongqing is looking forward to welcoming guests from home and abroad to the city in 2023.

The Consulate-General of Myanmar in Chongqing, the Consulate-General of Cambodia in Kunming, and the Trade Promotion Office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam in Chongqing also sent letters to express their warm congratulations on the convening of the forum.

During the forum, experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs from relevant departments, universities, think tanks, associations, and companies in Sichuan and Chongqing such as Southwest University delivered speeches on the exchanges and cooperation between Sichuan, Chongqing and Mekong countries in the fields of “education”, “economy and trade” and “interconnectivity”.

The forum also held an exhibition of exchanges and cooperation achievements between Sichuan, Chongqing and Mekong countries and a series of project signing and unveiling ceremonies, showcasing the achievements of cooperation between Sichuan, Chongqing, Yibin and Mekong countries in agriculture, education, economy and trade, inter-connectivity, information technology, and international sister cities in recent years.

Source/Official WeChat Account of Chongqing Foreign Affairs

“川渝地区—湄公河国家地方合作论坛是一项为川渝地区与湄公河国家开启合作新航程的务实举措，必将为两地全方位多领域交流加足马力。”杨洪波表示，四川省愿与重庆市一道紧抓澜湄合作机遇，同湄公河国家共同推进次区域整体发展和振兴，共同为人民福祉作出积极努力。

“澜湄六国共饮一江水，亲如一家人。”王福康表示，澜湄合作发展迅速、成果显著，成功打造了区域合作的“金色样板”。四川省、重庆市是中国西南地区的重要省市，同湄公河国家地缘相近、交往密切，具备良好合作基础和区位优势。期待各方广泛交流、聚集发展、聚集合作，为推动建设澜湄流域经济发展带、构建更加紧密的澜湄国家命运共同体作出积极努力。

“澜湄合作机制启动六年来，机制建设、战略规划、资金支持、务实合作均取得显著进展，给六国人民带来了实实在在的利益，也为中国东盟全面战略伙伴关系发展作出了积极贡献。”史忠俊期待，川渝地区与湄公河国家能借助论坛新平台凝聚共识，加强团结合作，为推动澜湄合作深化发展贡献新力量。

王雯表示，重庆市政府外办以推动建设中西部国际交往中心为目标，积极思考重庆融入澜湄合作的新路径，与湄公河国家的务实合作不断取得新成效。巴蜀一家亲，川渝一盘棋。重庆愿与四川以及澜湄国家各方一道，按照习近平主席对澜湄合作的重要指示要求，围绕王毅外长所谈的澜湄合作未来六个重点方向，携手并进，努力把论坛打造成为澜湄国家发展规划和川渝两地协同发展的重要交流合作平台。欢迎中外嘉宾2023年相聚重庆。

此外，缅甸驻重庆总领事馆、柬埔寨驻昆明总领事馆、越南工贸部驻重庆贸易促进办公室还发来贺信，对论坛的召开表示热烈祝贺。

论坛期间，来自西南大学等川渝两地相关部门、高校、智库、协会、企业的专家、学者和企业家围绕川渝地区与湄公河国家在“教育”“经贸”“互联互通”领域的交流合作进行了交流发言。

论坛现场还举办了川渝地区与湄公河国家交流合作成果展、项目集中签约和揭牌仪式，展示了近年来四川省、重庆市、宜宾市与湄公河国家在农业、教育、经贸、互联互通、信息技术、国际友城等多领域合作成果。