The Asian Vision Institute (AVI) provided a one-week Mekong-Lancang Peace Boat Training Programme to researchers, policy makers and civil servants from Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to enhance regional cooperation and develop peace and prosperity in the region.

The training voyage was launched on June 3 in the presence of the officials from the AVI, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Chinese embassy. The cruise came to an end on June 9.

In a June 12 press release, the AVI said the vessel travelled through Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham and Kratie, allowing participants to build networks and immerse themselves in Cambodian communities and culture.

“The cruising programme is part of the Mekong-Lancang Peace Boat Project, and is implemented by AVI under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund 2022 with the aim of enhancing policy dialogue, capacity building and regional cooperation among youth in the Mekong region. There are two components to the programme – the training cruises, and the publication of a book,” it added.

The Programme covered various activities including culture sharing, site visits, team-building activities and networking. The training sessions focused on peace building, sustainable development, a community of shared future, water governance, and water-energy-food security.

“The participants were able to immerse themselves in Khmer culture through many site visits. They experienced Nokor Bachey Temple, Phnom Pros Pagoda and Hanchey Pagoda, and saw Irrawaddy dolphins in the wild,” explained the AVI.

“The participants spoke highly of their experiences, noting that through intellectual exchanges, they had improved their multicultural understanding,” it added.

The training voyage was launched on June 3 in the presence of the officials from the AVI, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Chinese embassy. AVI

The participants also paid a courtesy call on Phang Dany, deputy governor of Kampong Cham Province, and visited the University of Management and Economics (UME) as well as the Western University in Kampong Cham province, in order to interact and share their experiences with local students.

Made up of six members – Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation was established in 2015.

In June last year, foreign minister Prak Sokhonn and Chinese ambassador Wang Wentian signed the Agreement on the Cooperation Projects of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund 2022, with more than $4 million allocated for the work, with 13 new projects to contribute to meeting the development needs in Cambodia.

Sok Soken, foreign ministry secretary of state, explained that the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation played a lead role in strengthening faith in multilateral cooperation.