Internal working platform of Yunnan Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

On December 2, 2023, coinciding with the 48th anniversary of Laos' National Day and the second anniversary of the opening of the China-Laos Railway, under the guidance of the China-Laos Friendship Association, the 2023 China-Laos Border People's Grand Carnival series of activities, themed "China and Laos: Mountains and Waters Connected, Fates Intertwined", was grandly held in Mengla County. The event was hosted by the Yunnan Provincial China-Laos Friendship Association, the CPC Xishuangbanna Prefectural Committee, the Xishuangbanna Prefectural People's Government, the Provincial Red Cross Society, and the Lao Embassy in Kunming, and was organized by the CPC Mengla County Committee, the Mengla County People's Government, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Xishuangbanna Prefectural People's Government, and the Xishuangbanna Prefectural Red Cross Society.

Li Malin, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the DPP and Vice Chairman of the Provincial Committee of the CPPCC; Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the China Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Wang Ping, Vice President of the Chinese Red Cross Society; and Kang Phong Inmani, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Assembly of South Thala Province, Laos, attended and delivered speeches at the Gala Dinner of the China-Laos Border People's Grand Reunion. Vithy Song Budakam, Governor of Champasak Province, Laos, and Wencho Van Arong, Deputy Governor of Oudomxay Province, among others, led delegations from the six provinces of Champasak, Phongsali, Oudomxay, South Thala, Bokeo, and Luang Prabang to attend the Grand Reunion Gala Dinner. Over 60,000 China-Laos border people participated in this Grand Reunion's "Eight Ones" series of activities through both offline and online means.

At the evening reception, Manlie Village of Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, and Man Nakham Village of Mengxin County, South Thala Province, Laos, signed an agreement to become friendly villages. The Xishuangbanna Red Cross signed an agreement to establish a cooperative relationship with the Red Crosses of Luang Prabang Province and Bokeo Province. Wang Yu, Executive Vice President of the Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Foreign Friendship, handed over the list of the 2023 "Heart Connects, Yunnan Goes to Laos" aid project to Mr. Vaisong Budakham, Governor of Champasak Province, Laos. Peng Yaomin, Executive Vice President of the Yunnan Provincial Red Cross, handed over the donation plaque of materials from the Yunnan Provincial Red Cross to Mr. Kong Phom Inmani, Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Assembly of South Thala Province. Xu Kehui, Standing Committee Member of the Xishuangbanna Prefectural Party Committee and Vice Prefectural Governor, handed over the donation plaque of materials from the Xishuangbanna Prefectural Red Cross to Mr. Lao Fang.

Sign

Red Army signing

List of Projects Transferred by the Provincial Friendship Association

Red Cross Handover List

Banna Prefecture Transfer List

Art troupes from China and Laos performed situational plays and songs and dances that were highly popular among the border people. Singing a song together, dancing a dance together, and telling a story together, they expressed the eternal and everlasting friendship between China and Laos, jointly presenting a high-level and high-quality cultural and artistic feast to the people of the China-Laos border region.

China and Laos

Sharing friendship, pursuing development, discussing the future

Jointly Singing the Joyful Song of Friendship Among the People of China, Laos, and Myanmar

This Grand Celebration event, themed "China and Laos: Intertwined Landscapes, Shared Fates", is composed of a series of "Eight Ones" activities, which include a "Hand-in-Hand" football match, a "Sharing the Same River Water, Protecting the Same River Fish" restocking and release activity, a "Closely Connected Landscapes, Deeply Connected People" border celebration activity, a "Friendship Endures" Grand Celebration Gala, a "Sharing the Same River, Walking the Same Path" media border tour, a "Cooperation and Win-Win" Southeast Asian trade fair, a "Hand-in-Hand Progress" cooperation and development activity, and a "Sharing the Same River" donation activity.

Using "ball" as a medium, a high-level

"Hand in Hand" Football Match"

Evening of December 1

As the first installment of the China-Laos border ethnic joint celebration series.

LMC International Football League

China-Laos-Myanmar Super Football Friendly

The National Sports Stadium in Mengla County opens with a lively start.

With a crisp, long whistle

The two-nation football friendly match officially kicks off.

Both players quickly got into the zone.

On the green grass

Run freely, cooperate cleverly

Overcoming, intercepting the ball, fighting for every second.

Defense, breakthrough, thrilling

The players continuously display superb skills.

Sweat it out

Enjoy the passion and joy of football.

Cross-border breakfast in minutes

The daily life of the Sino-Burmese border people living right next to Mengman Town right now.

December 2nd, morning

"China-Laos Ethnic Specialty Food Village"

Officially unveiled in Manlie Village, Mengman Town, Mengla County

Since 2023

With the deepening implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative

Between the border villages of China and Laos

People-to-people exchanges and border trade activities are becoming increasingly frequent.

To further strengthen the economic and trade exchanges between the border ethnic populations of China and Laos, Mengman Town of Mengla County has leveraged the resource advantages of ethnic customs and specialty cuisine in Manlie Border Happiness Village to build the "China-Laos Ethnic Specialty Food Street" brand, promoting increased income and prosperity for the border ethnic populations of both countries. As of now, Manlie Village has successfully hosted 9 rounds of China-Laos ethnic specialty food fairs, driving an increase of 3.8 million yuan in income for the border ethnic populations, laying a solid foundation for promoting cross-border tourism and border ethnic mutual markets.

In Manlie Village, Mengman Town

A long banquet symbolizing hard work and unity has begun.

Border residents of China and Laos gather together.

Not only to enjoy the delicious food

It is also to express a love for labor and a passion for life.

More conveys

The harmonious unity of China and Laos, with their mountains and waters connected and their people close to one another.

Sharing the same river water, protecting the river fish together.

On the afternoon of December 2, the "Sharing the Same River Water, Protecting the Same River Fish" supplementary stocking activity was held on the banks of the beautiful Nanla River. Guests from both China and Laos released ten thousand fish fry into the Nanla River, demonstrating the fraternal spirit of the people of China and Laos in "sharing the same river water and protecting the same river fish."

The Nanla River belongs to the Lancang River system, flows into the Lancang River at the border between China, Laos, and Myanmar, and finally empties into the Pacific Ocean.

The people of all ethnic groups in Mengla County have always regarded the protection of aquatic biological resources as an important measure for improving the aquatic ecological environment and jointly building and sharing a prosperous Mengla. Since 2005, the activity of restocking and releasing has been implemented, and more than 4.1 million native fish of various species have been released into the Nanla River to date. The restocking and release activities are a practical action by both China and Laos to protect aquatic biological resources, develop a green fishery economy, and build a region of cooperative development and ecological civilization.

To further promote mutual understanding among the people, the Xishuangbanna Prefecture Red Cross and the Red Cross societies of several northern provinces in Laos have launched a "Hand in Hand for Progress" cooperative development activity. During this grand celebration, the provincial Red Cross society and the Xishuangbanna Prefecture Red Cross donated urgently needed teaching equipment and daily necessities to the Red Cross societies of five northern provinces in Laos.

In addition, during the "Belt and Road, Hand in Hand" media border tour, an interview team of over 50 members, including central and provincial news media outlets and online influencers, visited places such as the Manlie Village Group in Mengman Town, Mengla County Vocational Senior High School, and the Nanlahe Starlight Night Market. They personally experienced the rapid and dramatic development changes brought by the railway, which serves as the last domestic stop of the China-Laos Railway.

At the "Cooperation and Win-Win" South and Southeast Asia Commodity Fair, buyers and businesses from various regions and countries in South and Southeast Asia, including Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia, will hold an 11-day commodity exhibition and sales event in Mengla County.

On one end is the colorful Yunnan, where countless people "Dian" (Yunnan) in their hearts, and the poetry and distant lands. On the other end is Laos, the charming "Liao" (Laos) that captivates the hearts of the Smiling Nation. A mutual journey, with morning departures and evening arrivals, the China-Laos Railway is a bridge of hearts and a bridge of friendship.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. To make the most of the "border" aspect, Menla County will actively integrate into and serve the higher-level and higher-quality new development of the Belt and Road Initiative from a new starting point, while ensuring the proper maintenance and operation of the China-Laos Railway and the effective development and construction of the areas along the route. Adhering to the spirit of the Silk Road and the concept of "friendship, sincerity, benevolence, and tolerance, with cooperation and win-win outcomes," Menla County will proactively undertake the mission and responsibility of promoting exchanges and cooperation, and continuously deepen exchanges and cooperation with neighboring countries and regions.