Phnom Penh, 03 September 2024 — Deputy Prime Minister Mr. SOK Chenda Sophea, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Mr. Wang Wenbin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China, are set to sign an agreement on the Cooperation Projects of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Special Fund 2024. The signing ceremony will take place on September 5, 2024, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Phnom Penh.

Under the terms of the Special Fund agreement, Cambodia will receive approximately USD 2 million to support eight projects across various sectors, including tourism, mine action, agriculture, rural development, and the promotion of MLC awareness. Additional areas of focus include regional economic enhancement, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), capacity building, and flood risk management. These projects are designed to strengthen regional cooperation and address shared challenges among the Mekong-Lancang countries.

The MLC Special Fund has been a cornerstone of cooperation between Cambodia and China, having financed about 90 projects in Cambodia over the past seven years. This ongoing partnership demonstrates a mutual commitment to building a community with a shared future characterized by peace, prosperity, and sustainable development for all Mekong-Lancang nations.

The upcoming signing of the agreement is expected to further bolster bilateral ties and enhance the strategic partnership between Cambodia and China, contributing to the broader goals of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation framework. The initiative underscores both countries' dedication to fostering regional connectivity and development through collaborative projects that address pressing issues and improve the livelihoods of people in the region.

The Mekong-Lancang Cooperation, established in 2015, is a sub-regional cooperation mechanism involving Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, focusing on promoting sustainable development and addressing shared challenges within the Mekong River basin. The MLC Special Fund, in particular, plays a crucial role in supporting practical cooperation projects that benefit the member countries and strengthen their interconnectedness.

As the agreement is signed, it marks another step forward in the longstanding friendship and collaborative efforts between Cambodia and China, reinforcing their shared vision for a prosperous and sustainable future in the Mekong-Lancang region.