During June 14th to 17th, the 2024 Training Program for Future LMC Diplomat has been successfully held at Dalian Medical University. This event was supported by the Asia Cooperation Fund and jointly hosted by the China Foreign Affairs University, Dalian Medical University, and Peking Union Medical College. The Training Program took the theme of “Promoting Regional Development Cooperation and Assisting in the Construction of a Community of Shared Future for LMC countries”. There had been more than 60 outstanding local students and international students participating in the event.

Opening Ceremony

At the opening ceremony, Wu Xiaofeng, Counsellor of the Asia Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered a speech via video, to celebrate the successful convening of the training program and express sincere hopes for the students.

Wu Xiaofeng, Counsellor of the Asia Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivering speech

Vice President Shao Shujuan of Dalian Medical University, Director Guo Yanjun of the Institute of Asian Studies at the China Foreign Affairs University, and Director Qiao Youlin of the Global Health Center at Peking Union Medical College, delivered opening speeches on behalf of the three host organizations.

Shao Shujuan, Vice President of Dalian Medical University, delivering speech

Guo Yanjun, Director  of the Institute of Asian Studies at the China Foreign Affairs University

Qiao Youlin, Director of the Global Health Center at Peking Union Medical College

The training program boasted a diverse and substantial curriculum, featuring advanced conversations, roundtable forums, workgroup meetings, teacher-student discussions, model conferences as Lancang-Mekong leaders, and on-site inspections. Over 20 experts from various institutions, such as the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Fudan University, China Institute of International Studies, Center for International Knowledge on Development, China Foreign Affairs University, Dalian Medical University, Peking Union Medical College, and Dalian University of Foreign Languages, offered lectures and guidance to the students.

Advanced Conversations

Roundtable Forums

The advanced conversations revolved around “promoting regional development cooperation and building a community of shared future for the LMC countries”. The roundtable forum took “the needs and prospects of Lancang-Mekong development cooperation” as the theme, covering multiple aspects and fields such as LMC mechanisms, profiles, sustainable development, environmental, medical and water treatment cooperation in this region, etc.

Workgroup Meetings

Model Conferences as Lancang-Mekong leaders

The workgroup meeting focused on “policy proposals for Promoting Regional Development Cooperation,”. It aimed to simulate the formulation of strategies to enhance regional development cooperation and advance the LMC to a higher stage of high-quality development. In addition, representatives from the six Lancang-Mekong countries shared their perspectives and engaged in discussions on cooperation issues, culminating in a working group research report summarizing the outcomes of their deliberations. During the model conferences as Lancang-Mekong leaders, the six representatives had jointly launched the “2024 Lancang-Mekong Development and Cooperation Initiative”, by stating their national positions thematically at the working group meeting on the base of the LMC’s procedural rules and policy consensus.

On-site Inspections

After the completion ceremony, the training class organized students to conduct on-site inspections at Dalian Medical University and Lvshun Museum.  Students from six countries were guided to recognize and perceive more about China in order to promote mutual learning of civilizations and Lancang-Mekong friendship.

Since the establishment of the LMC mechanism, achieving development cooperation in the Lancang Mekong sub regions has always been a common goal of LMC countries. The “the Training Program for Future LMC Diplomat” is a brand project of LMC aiming to build an exchange platform for young people from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand or Vietnam, and cultivate diplomatic reserve talents for LMC. During this advanced training class, young people from the six Lancang-Mekong regions had been inspiried to exchange ideas and exploit wisdom on how to promote regional development cooperation and build a community of shared future for the Lancang-Mekong countries. It comprehensively demonstrated a qualified demeanour of future diplomats in the Lancang-Mekong region.