Young Cambodian graduate Uk Sophearith hopes to make a meaningful contribution to the people living in the Lancang-Mekong River region by seizing on the opportunities provided by a multilateral framework.
Known as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), the framework was established in 2016 between China and five Southeast Asian countries along the river.
“For young individuals like myself, close cooperation across the Lancang-Mekong countries offers fascinating potential,” Uk, who graduated recently from the Royal University of Phnom Penh, told China Daily.
In July, Uk and his two teammates from China and Vietnam were awarded the Best International Team for their project which offers affordable and accessible yoga classes to students to improve their mental health. They won the award at the eighth Youth Innovation Competition on Lancang-Mekong Region's Governance and Development, held at the Phuket Campus of Prince of Songkla University in Thailand.
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Lancang-Mekong refers to the waterway that flows across six countries. Originating from China’s Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is called Lancang River in China, while further downstream — after flowing out of Southwest China’s Yunnan province — it is known as Mekong River, running across Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Referring to the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework, Uk said: “Expanded educational exchange programs may result from increased regional integration, giving me the opportunity to study abroad and acquire a variety of viewpoints.”
Cooperation in different industries will also generate new jobs, he added.
“I hope that more Mekong countries can grow like China,” said Khun Zaw, founder and CEO of Densilar, a Myanmar-based company in the avocado industry.
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Noting that China has become a leader in technology and innovation, Khun Zaw said he hopes to see more cooperation in agricultural technology among the Lancang-Mekong countries, so that the neighbors can learn from China and prosper together.
In July, Khun Zaw participated for the first time in the Lancang-Mekong Youth Entrepreneurs Forum in Kunming, Yunnan. During the gathering, he also met potential business partners from China and Cambodia, and is now preparing for follow-up meetings.
Khun Zaw said the LMC framework provides a good platform for regional young entrepreneurs to know and network with each other.
While Thailand is his main export market, Khun Zaw said he has been working to export Myanmar avocados to China. However, his plan has yet to materialize due to transport issues, currency and customs regulations.
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Hence, Khun Zaw hopes that the Lancang-Mekong countries can better utilize the existing free trade agreements in the region to allow more agricultural goods from Southeast Asia to enter the Chinese market.
Chhay Hongmey, 18, a member of the Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP), told China Daily that she is interested in the training programs for youth under the LMC framework because it is important for the region’s young people to work together on climate issues.
YECAP was established in 2020 by the United Nations Development Programme in Asia-Pacific in collaboration with its partners to engage regional youth in climate action.
Chhay was a speaker at an event on climate adaptation actions and community practice sharing in 2023. The event was held at UNICEF China during the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Week in April last year.
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Chhay, who is currently working on tackling food waste in Cambodia, said she was inspired by discussions on agroecology and sustainable agriculture at the LMC event.
Having read the Five-Year Plan of Action on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (2023-2027), Chhay said the framework can make a big contribution to capacity-building, joint research and technical exchange in terms of tackling climate change challenges and facilitating water management across nations.
“I hope the LMC can be turned into a to
tal green project so we can be more sustainable,” said Chhay. She added that China’s experience, technology and funding will be helpful for the region to implement relevant projects because many countries lack resources.
Chhay will be going to China later this month to begin her two-year study at the United World College Changshu China in East China's Jiangsu province.
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At the international campus, Chhay, who speaks fluent Mandarin and English, said she hopes to find fellow students who have the same passion for climate issues, and are interested in developing long-term projects.
Uk, the Cambodian graduate, said young people have the potential to promote the development of the Lancang-Mekong region because their energy, innovation and cultural understanding can position them as catalysts for positive changes.
“In the future, I hope to work across borders to gain significant expertise and knowledge while also contributing to the prosperity of the region.”
Uk said he hopes to expand his yoga project, foster youth collaboration, conduct research and advocate policies related to mental health.
