On 3rd December 2021, themed as "To Deepen Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and Share Opportunities of RCEP", the 2021 Lancang-Mekong Matchmaking Meeting for Agriculture, Capacity, Economy & Trade, and Technology was successfully held in Beijing, China.

The meeting was supported by Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Fund, sponsored by All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (ACFSMC) and undertaken by China-ASEAN Chamber of Agricultural Commerce (CACAC). Relevant government departments of ASEAN, India and other countries, cooperatives, associations and chambers of commerce, enterprises thereof communicated the new situation, new features and new opportunities of agricultural production, agricultural inputs, and international trade between China and Mekong countries as well as ASEAN countries through online and offline methods. They exchanged new situations of production and operation, economic and trade promotion, cooperation needs with each other. At the meeting, outstanding enterprises, high-quality products, potential projects, technological achievements, etc. were recommended, which has effectively facilitated the in-depth agricultural cooperation for Lancang-Mekong countries.

Wang Wei, Party member and Deputy Director of the Council of ACFSMC, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Aung Min Thyke, Director of the Department of Trade, Ministry of Commerce, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, delivered a speech at the meeting via video. Ana Gracia Maria Abejuela, Agricultural Counselor of the Philippines Embassy in China, and Park Phananra, Commercial Counselor of Royal Embassy of Cambodia in China attended the meeting and respectively delivered a speech. Leaders from the Research&Development Institute of Ministry of Commerce of China, Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, and relevant departments of ACFSMC, domestic and foreign key agricultural enterprises, associations and chambers of commerce, cooperatives, experts, media etc. exchange opinions through the meeting online and offline. Long Wen, Director General of the Agricultural Means of Production & Cotton and Jute of ACFSMC and President of China-ASEAN Chamber of Agricultural Commerce, presided over the opening ceremony of the meeting. 

In his speech, Wang Wei pointed out that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue between China and ASEAN and the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) will also come into effect early next year. In the face of such a significant period of strategic opportunities, this matchmaking meeting is just in time. The meeting will make exchanges on new situations, features, and opportunities of agricultural, economic and trade development based on respective location, resources and market advantages of Lancang-Mekong countries under the background of COVID-19 and RCEP, strengthen information communication, market sharing and facilitate friendly exchanges between countries, enterprises, and organizations of Lancang-Mekong and ASEAN countries, thus further support each other to fight against the pandemic and speed up agricultural production and economic recovery.

Wang Wei said that ACFSMC attaches great importance to the Belt and Road construction and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. We hope to take the opportunity to enhance further cooperation with other countries and jointly promote regional agricultural modernization and economic and trade integration.

Wang Wei made three hopes. First, we should deepen cooperation on agriculture and agricultural materials and promote green and sustainable development of regional agriculture. The second is to promote trade and investment exchanges and integrated development of regional economy and trade. The third is to strengthen information exchange and sharing, enhance cultural exchanges, and inter-organizational cooperation. He said that ACFSMC, leading CACAC, is willing to work with all parties to deepen friendly cooperation, expand interactive exchanges, promote integrated development, help the agricultural, economic and trade cooperation of Lancang-Mekong countries to flourish, and make the China-ASEAN  community of shared destiny more prosperous and beautiful.

In his speech, Aung Min Thyke said that 2021 is the fifth anniversary of implementing the Lancang-Mekong cooperation. When the international coordination mechanism of Lancang-Mekong cooperation was established, Myanmar sent personnel from various relevant ministries to participate in it. The exchange results of this meeting will bring tangible benefits to Lancang-Mekong countries and people thereof. The cooperation between Myanmar and ASEAN member countries will be closer. In 2022, the trade among Lancang-Mekong countries will be further developed and the friendship will be further consolidated.

Ana Abejuela said in her speech that in the past year, the pandemic has had a significant impact on the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, and this activity is very meaningful, providing an important communication channel for China and ASEAN countries in agricultural products, production capacity, economy, trade, and technology, helping enterprises to match supply and demand and achieve better bilateral cooperation.

Park Phananra said in his speech that China-ASEAN relations are the most successful and dynamic model in Asia-Pacific regional cooperation. Cambodia has always been a loyal supporter and firm practitioner of the Community of Shared Future for Mankind advocated by China since its establishment. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Cambodia have pulled together in times of trouble and gave mutual help and protection, demonstrating the unbreakable and everlasting friendship between the two sides with practical actions. He said that the Cambodian government has been committed to continuously creating a sound investment and trade environment and powerful and reputable Chinese and ASEAN companies are welcomed to participate in agricultural production and market development of Cambodia to tap investment potential and enhance trade cooperation. He expressed  the wish that China and ASEAN will build a closer community of destiny as soon as possible and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation will bring greater development opportunities and benefits to the people of Lancang-Mekong countries.

At the meeting, the launch ceremony of Lancang-Mekong Comprehensive Information Platform for Agriculture, Economy and Trade, Technology was held. The Lancang-Mekong platform is an open service platform among countries that gathers information, provides publicity and promotion channels, matches supply and demand, and enhances communication, built by CACAC with the financial support of the Lancang-Mekong International Project.

At the meeting, many experts made outstanding special reports.

Jiang Ye, deputy division chief and associate researcher of Asia Cooperation Department of Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (Lancang-Mekong Agricultural Cooperation Center), gave a special report on progress and prospects of Lancang-Mekong agricultural cooperation. 

Cao Yawei, Deputy director of Institute of Foreign Investment of Research&Development Institute of Ministry of Commerce of China, made a special report on opportunities and challenges brought by RCEP to China on agricultural, economic and trade cooperation.

Cai Rong, Vice-secretary general of the PHBS Think Tank, made a special report on China-ASEAN agricultural, economic and trade cooperation: opportunities and challenges through online methods.

Participants at the meeting conducted in-depth analysis, discussion, exchange, and matchmaking on the development situation and trade demand of agricultural materials in various countries. Representatives of foreign associations, chambers of commerce and enterprises introduced the current situation of production and operation, trade and investment, and cooperation needs. Representative of outstanding domestic enterprise shared their experience in expanding domestic and foreign investment and cooperation, development and changes of the agricultural, economic and trade situation and business opportunities and paths for win-win cooperation.

Ye Min Aung, Vice President Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( UMFCCI) shared “Trade and Investment Opportunities of Agricultural Cooperation between Myanmar and GMS Nations”.

SAKCHAI UNCHITTIKUL, Vice-chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, shared "Current Agricultural Situation in Thailand".

Cresente Paez, CEO of Phlippines AgriCooPh Federation, shared "Agricultural Production, Operation, Trade Situation, Development Trend, and Cooperation Opportunities of Philippine".

Surender Sharma, Country Manager (China) of India Coromandel International Ltd., shared “Indian agriculture sector and business prospect of Coromandel".

Zhang Zihui, General Manager of Sichuan Meifeng Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. reported on About Sichuan Meifeng.

Guo Yi, Executive Deputy General Manager of Huilong Co., Ltd., shared the Stable Mode for Development, Extensive Cooperation and Innovation Mechanism and introduced the international agricultural materials market trade situation.

Guo Yi, Executive Deputy General Manager of Huilong Co., Ltd., shared the Stable Mode for Development, Extensive Cooperation and Innovation Mechanism and introduced the international agricultural materials market trade situation.

Zhang Jian, CEO of International Business Center and President assistant of Wintrue, gave a report on Overseas Market Opportunities and Challenge, an overview of Wintrue in tapping ASEAN Market".

Wang Qixuan, Chairman of Yantai Zhongde Group Co., Ltd., reported "Sharing Development and Imagining the Future."

This meeting has set up an open platform for Lancang-Mekong and ASEAN countries to communicate the latest situation of agriculture, agricultural materials, production capacity, economy, and trade, share resources and market information. It enhances integration, exchange, and development matchmaking, which has played a positive facilitation role. Especially the operation of the online Lancang-Mekong Comprehensive Information Platform for Agriculture, Economy and Trade, Technology has further expanded and increased the opportunities for information communication, display, trade and investment cooperation among Lancang-Mekong countries, organizations, and enterprises. Also, the meeting has conducted full-spectrum analysis and discussion on the opportunities and challenges of RCEP implementation to agriculture, economy and trade, which is rich in content and has  achieved effective results.