On 8th December 2022, themed as "Enhance industrial development capacity and promote win-win Lancang-Mekong cooperation ", the 2022 Lancang Mekong Cooperation Summit for Agriculture, Agricultural Materials, Economy and Trade (hereinafter referred to as the Summit) was successfully held in Beijing, China.

The Summit, supported by  Asian Cooperation Fund, was hosted by All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (ACFSMC), undertaken by China-ASEAN Chamber of Agricultural Commerce (CACAC) and sponsored by Chengdu Wintrue Holding Company Limited. Embassies of ASEAN countries in China, relevant government departments, cooperatives, associations and chambers of commerce, enterprises of China, Mekong countries as well as ASEAN countries online and offline have carried out in-depth exchanges on the latest developments in agriculture, agricultural materials, economy, trade and technology at the Summit. And outstanding enterprises have actively showcased their new products, technologies and projects. In this way, the Summit provides an platform for participants to tap cooperation potential among all parties, enhance regional resource sharing, market matchmaking and business development, and deepen Lancang-Mekong cooperation in agricultural and agricultural materials.

Hou Shunli, Deputy Director of the Council of ACFSMC, attended the Summit and delivered an opening speech. Prak Phannara, Commerical Counselor of Royal Embassy of Cambodia in China and Bounleuth Luangpaseuth, Vice-president of Lao Chamber of Commerce and Industry respectively delivered the opening speech via video. More than 400 people participated in the meeting online and offline, including leaders from Department of Asian Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC, Department of International Cooperation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of PRC, International Cooperation Department of ACFSMC, Department of Science and Technology, Education, Association and Societies of ACFSMC and  Bureau for Agricultural Means of Production & Cotton and Jute of ACFSMC, Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of PRC and representatives from domestic and foreign associations, chambers of commerce, cooperatives, major agricultural means of production enterprises, experts and media. Long Wen, Director General of Bureau for 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 Summit.

In his speech, Hou Shunli pointed out that this year marks the first year for building the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and the first year of the new "Golden Five years" of Lancang-Mekong cooperation. The Seventh Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting identified six key areas of future cooperation, the third of which is to expand agricultural cooperation. The Summit focuses on economic and trade cooperation and exchanges in agriculture and agricultural materials and further taps the cooperation potential between China and ASEAN, especially Lancang-Mekong countries, which will continuously expand the breadth and depth of cooperation in agriculture and agricultural materials, and effectively enhance the quality and level of cooperation.

He proposed that all parties concerned should work together: First, deepen agricultural cooperation to ensure regional food security. All parties concerned should further expand the supply of agricultural products and agricultural materials and improve the stability of the industrial chain and supply chain to  lay a solid foundation for regional food security. Second, share new opportunities to improve regional agricultural and agricultural materials trade. All parties concerned should further tap cooperation potential, expand trade exchanges, and inject new impetus and vitality into regional economic prosperity and people's happy lives. Third, give full play to the role as a bridge to boost people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in the region. CACAC should act as a bridge and link for non-governmental diplomacy, build a cooperation platform for practical exchanges, enhance resource sharing and information exchange, and help promote the economic integration of the Lancang-Mekong sub-region. All parties concerned should grasp the advantages of geography, popularity and opportunity to promote deeper and broader exchanges and cooperation in the field of agriculture and agricultural materials, and boost the economic development of Lancang-Mekong countries and the agricultural modernization of China and ASEAN countries. 

Prak Phannara said in his speech that the friendship between China and Cambodia is deep and solid. Cambodia has always been a loyal supporter and firm practitioner of the "Human Community with a Shared Future" concept advocated by China. Its "Four Strategies: Growth, Employment, Equality, and Efficiency" development planning is highly aligned with China's "Belt and Road" Initiative. Driven by RCEP and Cambodia-China FTA, practical cooperation between the two countries continues to deepen, boosting and upgrading comprehensive strategic cooperation. At present, the Cambodian government is stepping up efforts to create a favorable investment and economic and trade environment. Toward that end, a series of favorable laws, regulations, and supporting policies have been issued. He made four suggestions on promoting the economic and trade cooperation of agriculture and agricultural materials between Lancang-Mekong countries. First, actively promote cross-border e-commerce cooperation in the field of agriculture. Second, finds ways to make Cambodia a comprehensive experimental base for green agricultural product cooperation between Lancang-Mekong countries. Third, ramp up financial support for the agricultural sector. Fourth, attract more Chinese agricultural enterprises to invest in and cooperate with Mekong countries in the agricultural field.

Bounleuth Luangpaseuth said in his speech that China is the number one investor in Lao PDR. Trade and investment between Lao PDR and China are significant. With the completion of Lao-China Railways project,  trade and investment between the two countries will further increase, opening new markets for goods and commodities of Lancang-Mekong countries. The Lao Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the largest business sector organization in Lao PDR. It is committed to supporting the government in creating an enabling business environment and promoting business prosperity by promoting public-private sector dialogue, enhancing development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, developing local industries and strengthening regional economic integration. Now it has established representative office in Guangzhou which will provide information of the laws and regulations, trade, and investment prospects to Chinese businesses. It will also facilitate the visit of potential businesspersons to the concerned authorities of Laos.

The release ceremony of the "Lancang-Mekong Agriculture Lecture Series" column was held at the Summit. And the first batch of videos of Overview of Agriculture and Agricultural Materials of ASEAN Countries were played.  

At the summit, Wang Xianzhong, Chief expert of Foreign Economic Cooperation Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PRC released the Report on the Development of the Lancang-Mekong Agricultural Cooperation (2021), focusing on the three major industries of rice, natural rubber and fodder in the Lancang-Mekong countries, showcasing the development experience and good results of Lancang-Mekong agricultural cooperation.

In the morning session, many experts in the field of agriculture and agricultural materials from China and ASEAN made wonderful special reports.

Mr. Kyaw Swe Lin, Director General of Department of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Myanmar made a report on Myanmar’s agricultural food system, potential and opportunities.

Ms. Ting Ping Ping,  Agriculture Counselor of Embassy of Malaysia in China made a report on Overview of Malaysia agriculture policy.

Jiang Ye, Deputy Division Chief of Division of Asian Affairs (Lancang-Mekong Agricultural Cooperation Center) , Foreign Economic Cooperation Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China gave a report on recent progress and prospects of Lancang-Mekong agricultural cooperation.

Yang Yusong, General Manager of Overseas Business Center Thailand, Chengdu Wintrue Holding Company Limited shared the opportunities and challenges in overseas markets and reviewed  Wintrue’s experience in exploiting ASEAN markets.

In the afternoon session, five representatives of associations and chambers of commerce as well as enterprises introduced their current production and management situation, trade and investment, cooperation needs, and analyzed the domestic and foreign agricultural and agricultural materials market situation and prospects thereof.

Yoong Jun Hao, General Manager of Malaysian Palm Oil Board China made a report on supply and demand of Malaysian palm oil and its prospects in China.

Fu Zhenxing, General Manager of Fujian Funong Agricultural Materials Group Company Limited reported on Enhance New Cooperation and Promote New Development.

Yao Shuqi, International Sales Director, Henan Xinlianxin Chemical Industry Group analyzed the fertilizer market and prospect. 

Mr. Sakchai Unchittikul, Vice Chairman of Thai Industry introduced Thailand’s position of agriculture and cooperation needs.

ILHAM NASAI, Manager for Cooperative Development Program, Ministry of Cooperative and SMEs, Indonesia introduced the present status of the Indonesia agriculture cooperatives in the post-pandemic era.

Against the background of the increasingly improved Lancang-Mekong cooperation mechanism and the deepening economic and trade cooperation in agriculture, agricultural materials between China and ASEAN countries, the holding of this Summit has a very positive and good impact. It not only builds a platform for online and offline communication between Lancang-Mekong and ASEAN countries, but also shares the latest development situation and cooperation needs, promoting regional resource sharing and market matchmaking. It has also brought more business opportunities for agricultural cooperation between China and other countries, and played a positive role in promoting Lancang-Mekong cooperation and the construction of the China-ASEAN Community.