The signing ceremony for the transfer of funds for the projects to be implemented with the Mekong-Lancang Special Fund (2024) between Myanmar and China to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and China was held at the M Gallery Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on June 14.

Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe, Mr. Chen Hai, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Myanmar, Union Minister for Religion and Culture U Tin Oo Lwin, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Min Naung, Union Minister for Cooperatives and Rural Development U Hla Moe, Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Khin Maung Yee, Union Minister for Industry Dr Charlie Than, Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Myo Thein Kyaw, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Lwin Oo and senior officials from relevant ministries attended.

At the event, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe spoke about the long-term friendship between Myanmar and China and paid tribute to the diplomatic relations between the two countries that were established on June 8, 1950 in his opening speech. The bilateral relations were upgraded to comprehensive strategic cooperation in 2011 based on the policy of peaceful coexistence, and further increased to a future community shared by Myanmar-China in 2020.

In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the success of Mekong-Lancang cooperation with the special fund projects of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation, which started in 2017 with China's funding and he thanked China for supporting the projects implemented in seven areas of cooperation under the framework of Mekong-Lancang cooperation framework. Myanmar, together with China and Mekong-Lancang cooperation member countries, is committed to regional peace, prosperity and stability with the spirit of a river for a Mekong-Lanchang future.

Mr. Chen Hai, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Myanmar, in his opening remarks, recalled the kinship and friendship between the two countries, the mutual understanding and support and emphasized that the Mekong-Lancang cooperation is an important corridor in jointly building a community of shared future. In addition, China will increase bilateral and multilateral cooperation with member countries of the Mekong-Lancang cooperation, including Myanmar, and will continue to provide assistance in the implementation of Mekong-Lancang cooperation special fund projects for the benefit of the people of Myanmar.

Then, the agreement on the transfer of funds for the projects to be implemented with the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund (2024) was signed by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Lwin Oo and the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China Mr. Chen Hai exchanged signatures.

According to the agreement, China will hand over about US$3.6 million to Myanmar for a total of 12 projects to be implemented by six ministries of Myanmar through the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund (2024).

These projects will be implemented in areas such as agriculture and livestock, protection and conservation of forest resources, encouraging environmentally friendly practices and innovations in small and medium businesses, village level poverty reduction, information technology innovation and cultural sector promotion.

Myanmar has received 118 multi-sectoral projects worth about US$35 million from 2017 to 2024 through the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Fund provided by China.