PHNOM PENH- Premier Li Keqiang arrived Wednesday for the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) leaders' meeting and an official visit to Cambodia."I look forward to joining my colleagues in Phnom Penh for the second LMC leaders' meeting and to discussing with them future action plans of cooperation in water conservancy, education, culture, youth and many other areas," Li said in a signed article published on Khmer Times, a leading English-language newspaper in Cambodia, ahead of his visit."I am confident that these efforts will lead to even more fruitful outcomes," added the premier, who will co-chair the leaders' meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.During the meeting, leaders of the six LMC countries -- China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam -- will review the progress made through the sub-regional cooperation mechanism and discuss the future of cooperation, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.Initiated by China in 2014, the LMC mechanism focuses on five priority areas of cooperation: connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources management, as well as agriculture and poverty reduction.The Lancang River originates on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in southwest China. It is called the Mekong River as it flows through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before emptying into the sea.As to the official visit, which comes as the two neighbors are poised to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, Li will meet with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, and hold talks with Hun Sen to promote bilateral cooperation."It is estimated that China has built more bridges and more roads in Cambodia than any other country," the Chinese premier said in his article. "In my view, the best bridge China has built is the bridge of friendship between our peoples, and the best road is the road leading toward common development.""The very purpose of my visit is to continue building that bridge and that road," he said. wristbands for eventsrubber band braceletsfuck cancer bracelet
Yang Qingfu. CHONGQING - To be or not to be on the water - that was the question that ate at boat restaurant owner Yang Qingfu for years. Eventually, he chose land. Yang's restaurant, located on a barge in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in Chongqing municipality, has been operating for a decade. He recently signed a deal with the local government to close his business on the river and start a new one on land. I have thought about moving the restaurant onto land for some time, Yang said, adding that he wasn't sure the restaurant would be as profitable. Boat restaurants were once popular destinations for locals and tourists alike in Chongqing. Diners can eat freshly caught fish while enjoying the view. Yang, 51, a Chongqing resident, worked with his father, a fisherman, since his teenage years. A decade ago, he realized the catering industry on the river was booming and decided to open his own restaurant. Yang bought a barge for 50,000 yuan ($7,500) and turned it into a boat restaurant serving the fish he caught. The business grew in the first few years, and Yang spent another 300,000 yuan to expand, adding a second floor that allowed him to cater to more than 100 guests. Eyeing high profits, increasing numbers of people opened similar restaurants on the water. Increased fishing led to a dwindling wild fish population, and sometimes Yang had to serve nonlocal fish bought from a market. With lower quality, Yang's business suffered. More than once he thought about moving his business to land. The boat rocks a lot on windy days, so we were also worried about safety, Yang said. Pollution was another concern. Most boats don't have sewage treatment equipment, and tons of sewage is poured directly into the river, Yang said. In 2016, China launched a campaign to protect the environment and avoid overuse of the Yangtze. The Chongqing government has been offering incentives to persuade boat restaurant owners to move to dry ground. Yang received a subsidy of 250,000 yuan and business advice from the government for his new venture. So far, 39 boat restaurant owners have signed deals with the municipal government. We need clean water just as fish do, Yang said. No one can survive if all the water becomes polluted. Xinhua
