The six countries connected by the Lancang-Mekong River, namely China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, are natural partners because of high economic relevance and complementarity. The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), as a new subregional cooperation mechanism, adheres to cooperation under a multi-participatory framework in line with the principles of consensus, voluntariness, equality and mutual benefit. It not only deepens the geographical relationship between the Mekong countries and China, but also bolsters the economic development of all the riparian countries. A series of small and medium-sized cooperative projects have been implemented, basically with progress and results delivered daily, monthly and annually. Since the establishment of the LMC mechanism, the member states have become more enthusiastic about cooperation and economically integrated. The subregional cooperation has gained a positive momentum of progressing steadily while maintaining stability.

The Lancang-Mekong region is a hot spot for global economic and social development and one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. Local countries and neighboring countries are actively pushing for cooperation mechanisms in the field of ecological environment in the region. Since 2019, China has played an increasingly prominent role in the construction and development of the ever closer Lancang-Mekong environmental cooperation mechanism. As a major contributor to the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, China has provided the Mekong countries with strong economic and technical support in environmental cooperation. This has accelerated the sustainable development of the LMC member states, and produced many beneficial outcomes on the issues of environmental cooperation and climate change.

At present, the LMC mechanism is being aligned with China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Mekong countries' development strategies, and harmonized with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 to deepen cooperation between China and ASEAN. The LancangMekong environmental cooperation is at a critical stage of transition from cultivation to development. It is necessary to further elevate and expand cooperation to other fields while taking into account the coordination between cooperation mechanisms in the Mekong River Basin. In the face of the impact of ongoing international unilateralism and protectionism, the six riparian countries located in the wind gap area of China-US trade friction have a more urgent need to jointly address external challenges by enhancing regional cooperation on an open, inclusive, reciprocal, and win-win basis.