I’m upstream of a river，Thou art downstream.

Though far apart， we’re close at heart，As we’re sharing the river for water.

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COOPERATION IN MEKONG VITAL TO REGIONAL PROSPERITY

I’m upstream of a river，Thou art downstream.

Though far apart， we’re close at heart，As we’re sharing the river for water.

Premier Li Keqiang and other LM6 leaders attending the opening ceremony of the LMC mechanism

marshal Chen Yi， Chinese Foreign Minister from 1958-1972， sent the few lines of verse on the previous page to a close friend of his-a Myanmar nationalduring a visit to Myanmar with then Premier Zhou Enlai in 1957. Though containing the words of one friend reaching out to another， the verse can be seen as indicative of the common goals shared by countries lying in the basin of the Mekong River， a vital source of livelihood for nearly all of Southeast Asia.

The Lancang River， which precedes the Mekong，originates in the Tangula Mountains in northwest China’s Qinghai Province. It winds its way through the mountains and valleys of Tibet and Yunnan， before exiting China at Xishuangbanna in Yunnan where it turns into the Mekong. From there， it continues its journey through Myanmar，Laos， Thailand， Cambodia and Vietnam， before finally reaching the South China Sea. Connecting six countries（LM6）， the Lancang-Mekong River serves not only as a natural link between countries， but also as a source of food and livelihood for an entire region， cultivating civilizations and cultures each with their own distinct features. Deeprooted economic and cultural factors have led inter-regional relationships to become the way they are today.

Historically， China and the five countries in the Mekong basin area have established themselves as good neighbors and cooperative partners. Today， China has established strong strategic partnerships with each of the five countries， establishing high levels of political trust. Rivers，land and air traffic lines connect the major economic zones in each like blood vessels， further enhancing cooperation. However， the LM6 nations are facing common challenges of climate change， natural disasters， crossborder crime and the threat of disease. These challenges are cause for even closer collaboration. Southeast Asia’s unique geography sets a fine stage for the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism （LMC）. These pragmatic cooperation projects are set to have a positive impact on relations between China and ASEAN countries.

A salient feature of LMC is project-driven， pragmatic cooperation. LMC is expected to set an example of the possibilities of cooperation among developing countries，each of which has a bright future. Currently， the most crucial task is to begin projects as soon as possible， many of which have already been identified in a jointly-published list. Cooperation should proceed with solid steps forward，leading to tangible benefits for all involved.