Lancang-Mekong Youth Exchange and Cooperation Center launched

The Lancang-Mekong Youth Exchange and Cooperation Center was inaugurated on Monday at Fudan University in Shanghai to promote greater levels of communication among youths in countries along the Mekong River.

Six universities, the Royal University of Phnom Penh, Qinghai University, Guangxi University of Finance and Economics, Fudan University, National University of Laos, University of Yangon, Prince of Songkla University and VNU University of Social Sciences and Humanities, also signed a memorandum of understanding during the launch.

"The center will work as a global cooperative platform that accelerates the common development of its member universities and youth from the six countries along the Mekong River," said Jiao Yang, chancellor of Fudan University, at the inauguration of the center which was held at Fudan University.

According to the MOU, the universities will cooperate to nurture young people who would conduct research on sustainable development issues that the six nations face. The focus of the center will include cross-cultural exchanges, higher education cooperation, innovation and entrepreneurship and international social practices.

The Mekong, known as the Lancang in its upper reaches in China's Qinghai province, weaves through Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before draining into the South China Sea.