Shenzhen positively poised to begin large cooperation efforts with five Mekong countries

Shenzhen, with economic, technological and capital strengths, has large potential of cooperation with the five Mekong countries and the city's enterprises can make big contributions to their economies.

Officials and business leaders made the remarks on Tuesday at the themed event of 2023 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Week in Shenzhen.

The event also featured the launch of "Hearing Crystal Sound without Obstacles" Hearing Loss Genetic Testing and Hearing Aid in Lao PDR, a project that aims to help 300 relatives of people with hereditary deafness in the Southeast Asian country with genetic testing to prevent and intervene with the disease, and donate hearing aids for 100 hearing-impaired people there.

Shenzhen is a Chinese city with a high level of economic development, modern technology and sound capital system, said Vanhpheng Saisomphou, the consul general of Lao PDR in Guangzhou.

The opening of China-Laos Railway has provided new opportunities of cooperation between Shenzhen and the five Mekong countries for travel and the transportation of goods, which will not only bring benefits to logistics, but also promote tourism and cultural exchanges between peoples from the two sides, she said.

The Lancang-Mekong River is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping, with the upper reaches of the river known as the Lancang River in China and the Mekong River in the other five Southeast Asian countries it flows through -- Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Chen Xu, vice-general manager of Shenzhen Shenyue Joint Investment Co Ltd, which set up an industrial park in Haiphong, a northern city of Vietnam, said the establishment of the industrial project has achieved both economic and social results.

With an aim of hiring 20,000 to 30,000 local employees there, Chen said the project will help create more job opportunities for the local market and increase tax revenue of the city.

sally@chinadailyhk.com