China to work further with Mekong countries in water resources

China is ready to consolidate political trust with the five countries along the Lancang-Mekong River, and further cooperate with them in areas of water resources, drought and flood prevention, industrial capacity, agriculture, and human resources, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday.

Li made the remarks when he was attending the Second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders' Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, late on Wednesday. The meeting agreed a Five-year Action Plan that charted the course for LMC development from 2018 to 2022.

The meeting , themed "Our River of Peace and Sustainable Development", was joined by leaders of China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Li advocated at the meeting for a five-year plan for water resources and conservation, and to enhance dialogue is these fields.

He also announced that China will carry out 100 medical projects in the Mekong countries in the next three years.

Regarding education and people-to-people exchanges, Li announced that China will provide two thousand training opportunities for officials as well as scholarships for four-year undergraduate education for 100 students from Mekong countries.

He said China supports its companies to tie up with their partners in Lancang-Mekong countries on the processing of agricultural products and the joint development of third markets.

Guo Yanjun, deputy director of the Institute of Asian Studies at the China Foreign Affairs University, said more communication in water resource and disaster prevention is meaningful.

"The LMC is based on the Mekong river, and issues on water resources are crucial to the other five Mekong countries. Regular dialogue on water resources and experience to fight flood and drought will help better address demands and concerns in both upstream and downstream countries along the Mekong and enhance friendship, adding sincerity and candidness to the foundation for LMC growth," Guo said.