China says Lancang-Mekong trade tops $500B, up 150% in decade

The headline number matters less than the framing: Beijing is presenting a decade of Mekong engagement as a working regional model, with the special fund and visa scheme cited as proof that the relationship extends beyond trade volumes. The "2.0" blueprint is the real signal, since it suggests China wants to institutionalize cooperation further rather than let it plateau. Whether the upcoming foreign ministers' meeting converts that ambition into concrete commitments, and how the six member states balance it against their other partnerships, is the open question worth watching.