The ninth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting issued a joint communique on Friday, pledging to deepen practical cooperation, enhance mutual trust among the six countries, expand common interests, further strengthen good-neighborly friendship, and jointly build a community of shared future for LMC countries toward peace and prosperity.

The six LMC countries are China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

According to the communique, all sides aim to advance the LMC based on the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit.

Stressing the importance of cooperation to strengthen the battle against cross-border crimes, including terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering and terrorist financing, all sides agree to hold a ministerial meeting for LMC countries on law enforcement and non-traditional security cooperation at an early date, said the communique.

All sides agree to strengthen cooperation in earthquake disaster reduction, ensure regional infrastructure connectivity, and strive to improve the disaster prevention and emergency response capabilities of LMC countries to respond to earthquakes, mudslides, typhoons, floods and other disasters, it said.

All sides vow to further deepen cooperation in various fields, work together to promote green, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it said.

According to the communique, all sides agree to promote the high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, further enhance the level of liberalization and facilitation for regional trade and investment, and reduce non-tariff barriers.

Emphasizing the need to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the development of artificial intelligence (AI), information security, and security and governance, all sides pledge to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation and capacity building in AI to empower the inclusive and sustainable development of the six countries.

Reiterating the important role of tourism in promoting people-to-people bonds among LMC countries, all sides vow to strengthen cooperation in tourism and civil aviation, and encourage more social, cultural and youth activities, it said.