Photo: weibo account of Chinese Embassy in Myanmar

 
China and Myanmar signed a cooperation agreement for the 2025 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, on Tuesday. Myanmar's Foreign Minister expressed sincere gratitude for China's financial support and sharing development opportunities, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia and Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Ko Ko Kyaw signed the agreement.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ma said that the 14 newly signed projects will continue to support Myanmar's development in areas such as agriculture, environmental protection, science and technology, culture, education and disaster prevention. 

Ma noted that China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Myanmar to make good use of the fund and promote the building of a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, bringing greater benefits to the peoples of both countries.

U Than Swe, a member of Myanmar's National Defence and Security Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed sincere gratitude for China's financial support and for sharing development opportunities, according to Xinhua.

Zheng Zhihong, the counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, and nine ministers from Myanmar's ministries of transport and communications, law, religion and culture, agriculture, natural resources and environmental conservation, industry, education, science and technology, social welfare, relief and resettlement also attended the signing ceremony.

Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the LMC Special Fund primarily supports regional development, with a strong focus on improving livelihoods through initiatives in poverty reduction, access to clean water and healthcare.

"Though relatively small in scale, these projects are highly practical and have been widely welcomed by local communities," Xu said. "For countries like Myanmar in particular, such 'small but beautiful' projects provide timely assistance that effectively addresses the needs of the people."

According to the Xinhua News Agency, since 2018, Myanmar has received support from the fund for eight batches of projects totaling 132 — the highest number among all Mekong countries.

At the 17th China-ASEAN Summit held in November 2014, China proposed the establishment of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Framework, which was warmly welcomed by the five Mekong River countries. 

On March 23, 2016, the First LMC Leaders' Meeting was held in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province. The meeting, with "Shared river, Shared future" as its theme, released the Sanya Declaration of the First LMC Leaders' Meeting - For a Community of Shared Future of Peace and Prosperity Among Lancang-Mekong Countries, and officially launched the LMC mechanism.

The LMC aims at bolstering the economic and social development of sub-regional countries, enhancing the wellbeing of their people, narrowing the development gap among regional countries and supporting ASEAN Community building as well as promoting the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and advancing South-South cooperation.