Eight Cambodian journalists have been joining their colleagues from the Mekong-Lancang Sub-region, including China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar to explore the potential of the subregion from June 29 to July 5, 2023 in China.

Prior to the study tour and media workshop, all journalists participated in the 2023 Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Media Summit in Beijing on June 27 under the theme “Promoting People-to-People Bonds for a Better Shared Future”.

H.E. Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee said China and five Mekong countries have joined the “Friends Group of Global Development Initiative” to build a high-quality “Belt and Road” demonstration area, a global development initiative pilot area, and a global security initiative pilot area, and build a closer community of shared future for the Lancang-Mekong countries.

The Mekong-Lancang Cooperation adheres to the principle of putting people first and benefiting the people, which has effectively enhanced the feelings of the people of the six countries and has become a bridge connecting the people of the six countries.

“We look forward to promoting communication among the people of the six countries of the Lancang-Mekong region through media cooperation, enhancing friendship and mutual trust, telling the ‘Lancang-Mekong story’ well, carrying forward the ‘Lancang-Mekong spirit’, and working together to address various challenges on the way forward, creating more well-being for people of all countries,” he said.

Mr. Khan Sophirom, Deputy Director General of Cambodia’s state-owned news agency, the Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP), said at the summit that the Mekong-Lancang Sub-region has tremendous potential of history, culture, socio-economy, and natural resources, but it has been facing geopolitical conflicts and challenges.

The Sub-region has also been experiencing various ideologies and political influences, as well as pressures and problems caused by the spread of COVID-19, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and sanctions, as well as tensions between superpowers, he added.

The increasing environmental and social threats posed by developments in the river basin is also a major challenge in the subregion, so he hopes that during the media summit and study tour programme hosted by the People’s Daily this time, all media practitioners will be able to discuss, as well as collaborate on how to use the journalism profession to promote the building of trust and better understanding among readers in their respective countries.

Mr. Soy Sophea, Editor-in-Chief of Doeum Ampil Media Centre said that the Mekong-Lancang Sub-region is a potential economic and an attractive political geography in the region and the world. It is located along a river with two names, originating from the Qinghai and Tibet Plateau to Yunnan province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China to Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam with a total population of over 320 million people.

The region has great potential in the economic field and is also rich in culture and tradition, as well as many other issues that journalists must continue to understand and report to readers to build trust, understanding, promote connectivity, enhance cooperation, focus on the fundamental strengths of the community, and adhere to the core principles of environmental sustainability and resilience to build the Mekong-Lancang sub-community for the future together.

The Cambodian journalists attending the 2023 Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Media Summit and the Media Workshop are from the Agence Kampuchea Presse, Khmer Times, the Daum Ampil Media Centre, Apsara Media Services, and Thmey Thmey digital media.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse