瀾湄合作在行動(dòng)

□ 文/本刊記者 高航

瀾湄合作在行動(dòng)

□ 文/本刊記者 高航

“這是一條溫暖和富饒的河流，它孕育生命、歷史和未來(lái)。它創(chuàng)造了豐富的生物多樣性，同飲一江水的人民有相同的信念，包容彼此，善待對(duì)方……”2016年12月23日，隨著《同飲一江水》瀾湄合作視頻短片的敘述，瀾滄江—湄公河合作第二次外長(zhǎng)會(huì)在柬埔寨北部旅游城市暹粒開幕。

中國(guó)外交部部長(zhǎng)王毅和緬甸、老撾、泰國(guó)、柬埔寨、越南五國(guó)外交部部長(zhǎng)在這里就瀾湄合作進(jìn)行了務(wù)實(shí)、高效的溝通。

中國(guó)外交部部長(zhǎng)王毅在瀾滄江—湄公河合作第二次外長(zhǎng)會(huì)上發(fā)言

瀾湄合作能在如此短時(shí)間內(nèi)取得這么多進(jìn)展，根本原因在于它適應(yīng)了6國(guó)加強(qiáng)互利合作的迫切愿望，適應(yīng)了地區(qū)經(jīng)濟(jì)一體化進(jìn)程的時(shí)代潮流。

瀾湄合作進(jìn)行時(shí)

作為一個(gè)新的次區(qū)域合作機(jī)制，瀾湄合作從提出到實(shí)施早期收獲項(xiàng)目?jī)H僅用了一年時(shí)間。王毅外長(zhǎng)向記者表示，本次外長(zhǎng)會(huì)上提出了瀾湄合作的下一步目標(biāo)。一是在3～6個(gè)月內(nèi)全面建立5個(gè)優(yōu)先領(lǐng)域的聯(lián)合工作組，并投入實(shí)質(zhì)運(yùn)作。二是鼓勵(lì)各國(guó)在2017年內(nèi)，分別設(shè)立瀾湄合作秘書處或協(xié)調(diào)機(jī)構(gòu)。三是2017年內(nèi)所有45個(gè)早期收獲項(xiàng)目全部完成實(shí)施或取得實(shí)質(zhì)進(jìn)展。四是制定新一批合作項(xiàng)目清單和瀾湄合作5年行動(dòng)計(jì)劃，提交瀾湄合作第二次領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人會(huì)議審議通過(guò)。五是正式啟動(dòng)瀾湄合作專項(xiàng)基金的申請(qǐng)與使用。

王毅外長(zhǎng)指出，自2016年3月瀾湄合作首次領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人峰會(huì)以來(lái)，各成員國(guó)一步一個(gè)腳印地落實(shí)這次瀾湄合作領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人會(huì)議達(dá)成的共識(shí)，可謂“天天有進(jìn)展，月月有成果”。在不到一年時(shí)間里，瀾湄6國(guó)已建立起領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人會(huì)議、外長(zhǎng)會(huì)議、高官會(huì)等一整套工作機(jī)制和平臺(tái)。45個(gè)早期收獲項(xiàng)目中，過(guò)半數(shù)已經(jīng)完成或正在實(shí)施。5個(gè)優(yōu)先領(lǐng)域聯(lián)合工作組的籌建有序推進(jìn)。瀾湄合作的融資支持機(jī)制全面鋪開，一些重大項(xiàng)目已經(jīng)落地。瀾湄合作能在如此短時(shí)間內(nèi)取得這么多進(jìn)展，根本原因在于它適應(yīng)了6國(guó)加強(qiáng)互利合作的迫切愿望，適應(yīng)了地區(qū)經(jīng)濟(jì)一體化進(jìn)程的時(shí)代潮流。

瀾湄合作的早期收獲項(xiàng)目進(jìn)展迅速，各國(guó)對(duì)早期收獲項(xiàng)目持充分肯定態(tài)度。瀾湄合作專項(xiàng)基金也已經(jīng)由中國(guó)外交部和財(cái)政部正式設(shè)立并啟動(dòng)，面向中國(guó)和湄公河流域5國(guó)開放申請(qǐng)。早期收獲項(xiàng)目的推動(dòng)和瀾湄合作專項(xiàng)基金的正式運(yùn)行，標(biāo)志著瀾湄合作正在務(wù)實(shí)進(jìn)行推動(dòng)。

域內(nèi)國(guó)家自己的選擇

實(shí)際上，瀾湄合作機(jī)制并不是區(qū)域內(nèi)唯一的合作機(jī)制。1992年，由亞洲銀行主導(dǎo)的GMS（大湄公河次區(qū)域合作）機(jī)制設(shè)立，包括中國(guó)和湄公河流域5國(guó)，以加強(qiáng)各成員國(guó)之間的經(jīng)濟(jì)聯(lián)系與發(fā)展、促進(jìn)次區(qū)域經(jīng)濟(jì)和社會(huì)發(fā)展，實(shí)現(xiàn)區(qū)域共同繁榮。1995年，由湄公河流域國(guó)家共同設(shè)立了湄公河委員會(huì)，以期在航運(yùn)、水利、農(nóng)業(yè)、漁業(yè)、救災(zāi)和環(huán)境保護(hù)等方面展開合作。除此以外，美國(guó)主導(dǎo)設(shè)立了“下湄公河倡議”及“湄公河下游之友”計(jì)劃。

那么，瀾湄合作機(jī)制和這些已有的合作機(jī)制有何不同？

盡管瀾湄區(qū)域國(guó)家已有了多種合作機(jī)制，但是這些既有的合作機(jī)制限于各種原因，在推動(dòng)區(qū)域合作中各有掣肘。GMS是亞洲銀行主導(dǎo)的合作機(jī)制，在項(xiàng)目安排和支持力度方面，除了經(jīng)濟(jì)考量，很多時(shí)候也夾雜了主導(dǎo)國(guó)家的“政治私貨”。美國(guó)主導(dǎo)的下“湄公河倡議”也是如此。湄公河5國(guó)設(shè)立的“湄公河委員會(huì)”因資金限制，已經(jīng)進(jìn)行了大規(guī)模裁員和職能削減。

而瀾湄合作機(jī)制是中國(guó)倡議、湄公河5國(guó)共同參與的合作機(jī)制，這個(gè)新機(jī)制可以利用的資金更充足、可以調(diào)配的資源更多。“瀾湄合作機(jī)制”將全面推動(dòng)瀾湄流域內(nèi)各領(lǐng)域合作，將會(huì)更加務(wù)實(shí)、更加高效，將產(chǎn)生更好的實(shí)際效果。

“讓湄公河兩岸的人民發(fā)展、輝煌，湄公河是我家。祝愿湄公河流域的6個(gè)國(guó)家人民幸福。所有的故事歸于大海，而人民共享這一條大河。90多個(gè)民族沿河而居，6個(gè)國(guó)家依水往來(lái)，它載滿了友好、信賴、責(zé)任和互利，傳遞著合作、進(jìn)步與友誼，所有的心靈都在祝福著這條河。”正如《同飲一江水》這部短片里面的敘述，瀾湄6國(guó)正在以自己的方式，緊握手，肩并肩走在合作與發(fā)展的光明之路上。

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“Mekong, a warm and fertile river, nourishes life, biodiversity, history and future alongside. The people residing along the river share the common belief, and they are kind, inclusive with each other…” Beginning by playing the documentary video — Nourished by the Same River, the 2ndLancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting kicked off in northwest Cambodia’s tourist city Siem Reap on December 23, 2016.

Chinese Foreign Minister H.E. Wang Yi had a pragmatic and efficient communication on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) with his counterparts from Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

The reason why LMC can make so much headway within such a short period of time is that it satisf es the deep desire of the six countries to enhance reciprocal cooperation, and keeps up with the pace of regional economic integration, Wang said at a joint press conference after the meeting concluded.

LMC making progress

It took only one year to implement the Early Harvest Programs since the LMC was initiated. The 2ndLancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on December 23, 2016 mapped out the direction of further cooperation and what the next steps should be, Wang told the reporter. First, set up Joint Working Groups responsible for the key priority areas within three to six months. Second, encourage member states to set up LMC secretariats or coordination bodies respectively next year. Third, make headway with or fully implement all of 45 Early Harvest Programs next year. Fourth, make a new list of cooperation projects and a five-year action plan for LMC, which will be submitted to the second Leaders’ Meeting for approval. Fifth, start to apply for the LMC fund as soon as possible.

Thanks to the joint efforts made by the six countries along the river after reaching consensus at the f rst Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in March 2016, it took less than one year to establish a set of work mechanism and platform for LMC, including the Leaders’ Meeting, the Foreign Minister’s Meeting, and Senior Off cials’ Meeting. Besides, half of Early Harvest Programs has been accomplished or is underway, and some of relevant financial support has been ready.

All countries in the region are gratif ed with the progress made in the Early Harvest Programs. The LMC fund, launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China, has been available for all the six countries. All this marks the pragmatic advance of LMC.

LMC — A wise choice for regional prosperity

In fact, there is many a similar cooperation mechanism. Take Greater Mekong Sub-regional Cooperation (GMS) for an instance. It was established by China’s Yunnan Province and five countries along the Mekong River in 1992, aiming to to enhance their business ties, boost the sub-regional economic and social development and achieve regional prosperity. As another example, Mekong River Commission, jointly established by the countries along the Mekong River in 1995, expects cooperation in areas of shipping, water conservancy, agriculture, f shing, disaster relief and environmental protection. In addition, there are U.S.-led plans like“The Lower Mekong Initiative”and“Friends of the Lower Mekong”.

Nevertheless, these mentioned cooperation mechanisms are subjected to various handicaps when they were practiced in the region. For example, in the Asian Bank – led GMS, the project arrangement and relevant support may be determined by or somewhat affected by the economic and even political concerns of the GMS’s leading states. It is the same with the U.S.-led Lower Mekong Initiative. As for the Mekong River Commission, the financial shortage has made it have a mass layoff.

How about LMC, then? Does it have something new or preferential when compared with other existing cooperation mechanisms?

Turn to the new cooperation mechanism led by China and joined by the remaining countries along the Mekong River. LMC provides more funds and resources. Its ultimate target is to promote all-round cooperation more pragmatically and eff ciently and to generate more tangible benef ts in the Mekong region.

LMC has been on the rise since the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting with the theme of“Shared River and Shared Future” was held in March 2106. As said in the documentary video Nourished by the Same River, “Let us make our home Mekong River prosperous. May the peoples in the region be happy. The river nourishes over 90 nationalities and six countries, carrying friendliness, trust, responsibility and common benefit. It bears its people’s best wishes and delivers their cooperation, development and friendship.” The six countries along the river is going hand in hand and heading towards the way of cooperation and common development.

Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Heading Forward

Written by Gao Hang / Translated by Mao Yuye