Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC)
The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) is a regional cooperation mechanism established in 2016 that brings together the six countries sharing the Lancang-Mekong River: China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Founded on the principles of mutual trust, equality, and shared prosperity, the LMC serves as a vital platform for dialogue and collaboration on sustainable development across the Mekong region.
Through the LMC Special Cooperation Fund, the initiative supports a wide range of projects addressing urgent regional challenges, including poverty reduction, rural development, integrated water resources management, climate change adaptation, public health, tourism, and digital transformation. Some of the recent work has delivered a range of benefits to stakeholders including local communities such as clean water access through the “Sweet Spring Action”, and the model village projects for poverty alleviation. As the cooperation enters its 2.0 era, member states are deepening industrial ties and integrating national needs into regional advantages.
Overview
SUMERNET has engaged with the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) framework since 2017, building relationships and collaboration around water resources, climate resilience and regional cooperation. This engagement began with visits by SUMERNET delegations to the LMC Water Center for partnership building and has continued through mutual participation in SUMERNET Research and Policy Forums, LMC Water Resources Cooperation Forums and other regional dialogues and knowledge-exchange activities.
Over time, the partnership has expanded from dialogue and network building to collaboration through concrete initiatives supported by the LMC Special Fund. SEI as the host of SUMERNET Secretariat, SUMERNET Steering Committee, SUMERNET Network Members and SUMERNET Young Professionals, have contributed to the activities of several LMC projects, including the Transboundary Cooperation Mechanism on Adaptation to Climate Change and Hydropower Development Projects, Building Water Sector Youth Leadership Network in the Lancang-Mekong Region, and Climate-Smart Water Technologies for Rice Production in the Lancang-Mekong Region. These collaborations have helped connect research, policy, capacity development, and regional networks, while enhancing transboundary data sharing and strengthening relationships among researchers, government agencies, young professionals, and other water-sector stakeholders across the Lancang-Mekong region.
Key collaborations
Chayanis Krittasudthacheewa
<[email protected]>
