From November 5 to 7, The First Meeting of Joint Technical Working Group on Technical Regulations on Surveys of Commercial Ships on the Lancang-Mekong River among China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, hosted by the Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China, was successfully held in Guangzhou. Experts and representatives from the Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China, Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China, Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China, Department of Transport of Yunnan Province, China Classification Society, and other organizations attended the meeting. A total of 14 representatives from Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand also attended the meeting.

The Technical Regulations on Surveys of Commercial Ships on the Lancang-Mekong River (also referred to as the“Lancang-Mekong Technical Regulations”) is a set of mandatory technical standards and inspection systems developed by China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand for commercial ships engaged in international shipping along Lancang-Mekong. The regulations aim to ensure that ships meet safety and environmental protection requirements, thereby promoting maritime safety and sustainable development in the region. The meeting of the joint technical working group reviewed and revised the current Lancang-Mekong Technical Regulations to better align them with the evolving needs of maritime safety and development in Lancang-Mekong international shipping.

The drafting of the revisions was undertaken by China. During the meeting, China provided a comprehensive explanation of the draft revisions, with a particular focus on key provisions such as ship inspection certificates, navigation area classifications, firefighting and life-saving equipment for new ship construction, and pollution prevention measures. The four parties conducted in-depth discussions on the revised draft of the Lancang-Mekong Technical Regulations, exchanging and sharing their respective national practices in ship inspection and technical standards. Consensus was reached on numerous key technical provisions, culminating in the preparation of a joint technical working group meeting report.

The delegations from all parties expressed their gratitude and appreciation for China's efforts in revising the Lancang-Mekong Technical Regulations and hosting the meeting of the joint technical working group. This meeting has strengthened mutual trust among the four parties and contributed to the promotion of maritime exchanges and cooperation, as well as the safety of ship navigation and the healthy, sustainable development of the shipping industry in the Lancang-Mekong region.