On the evening of September 24th, 2020, Prof. Lu Guangsheng, Director of the Institute of International Relations, Yunnan University, delivered an online lecture entitled “The Unique Significance, Development Evaluation and Research Frontiers of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation” to more than 30 faculty members and students of Institute of International and Area Studies, Tsinghua University (IIAS-THU).
Prof. Lu started the event with a brief introduction to the origin and history of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), and then elaborated on the unique significance, development evaluation and research frontier of LMC. He pointed out that LMC has helped to build a theoretical framework for peripheral diplomacy from the perspective of “community of destiny”. The recognition of LMC Community of Destiny by relevant countries is of exploratory and practical value to the construction of the Community of Destiny of Human Beings, and also plays a guiding role in promoting the “Belt and Road ” Initiative (B&R). At present, although LMC has achieved numerous significant results, the development challenges still exist.
During the interactive Q&A session, Prof Lu engaged in a heated discussion with the students on the knowledge and participation of the Mekong River countries in LMC and answered their questions about the disputes over the distribution of water resources among countries under LMC Mechanism and ASEAN’s attitude towards LMC. The online audience commented that Prof Lu’s lecture helped them to have a deeper understanding of LMC at the regional level and provided important references for their future research.
Prof. Lu Guangsheng is Chief Expert of Center for China’s Neighbor Diplomacy Studies, Director of the Institute of International Relations, Director of the Institute of Southeast Asia Studies and Deputy Director of the Research Center of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation at Yunnan University. He is also a Young Academic Leader in Yunnan Province and Donglu Scholar at Yunnan University. His research interest includes China’s neighbor diplomacy, Southeast Asian international relations and Mekong subregion cooperation research. Prof. Lu has led many research projects, including the National Social Science Fund Projects. He is the author of “Research on the Impact and Countermeasures of Myanmar’s Political and Economic Transformation on China”, “Research on Economic Relations between China and Mainland Southeast Asian Countries”, “Southwest Peripheral Security and Regional Cooperation from the Perspective of Geopolitics”, “Regionalism and ASEAN Economic Cooperation” and “Greater Mekong Subregion Cooperation and Development Report”. Prof. Lu has published dozens of academic papers and commentary articles at home and abroad. He has won the First, Second and Third Prizes for Outstanding Achievements in Philosophy and Social Sciences in Yunnan Province.
By: Qin Yi
