Forum on Women Issues in Lancang-Mekong River Basin Held in Beijing

On 19 October 2016, the Forum on Women Issues in Lancang-Mekong River Basin, co-hosted by China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and China Women’s University (CWU), was held in Beijing. Nearly 200 people, including women leaders, government officials, scholars and professionals from China, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam as well as representatives from Embassies of Mekong countries in Beijing, attended the opening ceremony.

Mr. Qi Mingqiu, Executive Vice-Chairman of CSCLF, Mr. Li Mingshun, Vice President of CWU, Ms. Cao Jing, Counsellor and Director of Regional Cooperation Division of Department of Asian Affairs, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ms. Long Sophally, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Women’s Affairs of Cambodia delivered remarks at the opening ceremony. They spoke highly of the significance of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) and commended its role in promoting common development of the six countries. They highlighted that women’s involvement in the LMC was indispensable. Therefore, all parties need to explore the positive role of women in the social and economic areas, consider the challenges and opportunities they face faced and enhance the exchanges and cooperation on women issues.  

Ms. Huang Ying, Director of General Affairs and Coordination Division, represented ACC to deliver remarks at the opening ceremony. She said the Forum showed the organizers’ continuous efforts to enhance people-to-people exchanges between ASEAN and China, and to promote the LMC. The LMC was an important part and a new highlight of ASEAN-China cooperation. The first LMC Leaders' Meeting successfully held in March 2016 identified people-to-people exchanges as one of the three cooperation pillars and encouraged exchanges among women. She stressed women were critical to advancing social, political and economic development and progress, and hoped the Forum could serve as a platform for communication and cooperation, in which valuable insights and best practices on issues related to women’s development would be shared, thus exploring creative and innovative ways to promote women’s progress and contribute to the sustainable development of this region.  

Ms. Liu Bohong, Specially appointed Professor of CWU and Ms. Cing Ngain Mang, Member of Bill Committee, Amyotha Hluttaw of Myanmar also made keynote speeches with the topics of “Women and New Global Development Agenda” and “The Development of Ethnic Minority Areas and Women’s Problems in Myanmar” at the opening ceremony.

During the Forum from 19 to 22 October, the participants had extensive discussions on the themes of “Women and Social Governance”, “Women’s Economic Empowerment” and “Regional Women Development and Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage”. They also made study tours.