CCTV9英语新闻：1st LMC Leaders' meeting held in China's Sanya

Leaders from six countries along the Lancang-Mekong River have convened in southern China's Sanya city, to discuss future cooperation. The first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation or LMC, Leaders' Meeting opened this morning. The theme is 'Shared River, Shared Future'.  The meeting will focus on cooperation over water resources.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Vice President of Myanmar Sai Mauk Kham, and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh pose for photos in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, March 22, 2016. The first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders' Meeting will be held on Wednesday in Sanya. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, along with leaders from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam are attending the event. They are expected to witness the signing of several cooperation documents. This cooperation mechanism is also expected to supplement relations between China and ASEAN countries. Earlier, CCTV interviewed the Lao Foreign Minister, and experts on international relations for their prospectives.

"The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism will help to boost the development of the ASEAN nations, especially promoting the three pillars of politics, economy and culture. The cooperation between China and five Mekong river nations will fall into place," Lao deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said.

"The construction and the upgrade of infrastructure will help to enhance the interaction of the nations along the river. It will reduce the cost of transportation," Ruan Zongze, exec. vice president of China Institute of International Studies, said.