“Hearing the Mighty River” together

From January 14 to 18, 2025, the “One River, One Family” Spring Festival cultural initiative took place in Laos and Thailand. During this event and continuing to the present, the short video campaign “The Power of Ascendancy” has been inviting submissions. Under the theme “Hearing the Mighty River,” young individuals from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam express their love for the Lancang-Mekong River and celebrate their shared kinship through song.

Cambodia: Lancang-Mekong cooperation promises a bright future

“Friendship flows long along the Lancang River; partners united, where we all deliver. Cooperation shines like the warm sun’s rays; together the six countries stand, through all of our days.” These lyrics are from the Chinese song “A Promising Future,” which has been adapted and covered in Khmer by Cambodian singers Ningning and Moni. The song was produced by the Yunnan International Communication Center for South and Southeast Asia. Through its lyrics and melody, it beautifully conveys the hopes and aspirations for Lancang-Mekong cooperation.

“The melody of this song is beautiful, and it carries a wonderful meaning. I truly love it!” “Through the scenes in the music video, I can fully appreciate the pastoral beauty of Cambodia’s green wheat fields and the vibrant energy of Phnom Penh.” After the song was promoted on Facebook pages such as that of Khmer magazine and “Amazing Yunnan,” it received widespread praise from Cambodian netizens. As of January 20, 2025, the song has garnered over 210,000 views on the “Cambodia-China Family” Facebook page and has been shared by many users. Mr. Chhean Leang, State Secretary of the Ministry of Information of the Kingdom of Cambodia, expressed his approval and admiration right after the song’s release.

At the conclusion of the song’s music video, Ningning and Moni expressed, “We hope that cooperation among the Lancang-Mekong countries will strengthen, and that exchanges among the youth in the region will grow deeper and more extensive. We envision that the ‘One River, One Family’ cultural activities will continue to flourish. As we enter the new year, we wish our friends from all countries in the basin a promising future, just like the title of the song!”

 

Laos: “The sound of Laos” celebrates friendship 

“I hope this song inspires the younger generation in Laos to remember their responsibility in protecting and inheriting their traditional culture while also showcasing a new image of Lao youth that is friendly, enterprising, and full of hope.” According to Lao singer Thinlamphone, the original song “The Sound of Laos” narrates a story of inheritance and renewal.

“On one hand, the music video features scenes such as the sunset by the Mekong River, the melodious sounds of the reedpipe, people working in the rice fields, and blooming champa flowers, all highlighting the purity and beauty of Laos. On the other hand, the song fuses traditional Lao musical elements with modern hip-hop, capturing the voices of Lao youth eager to connect with the world,” said Thinlamphone. For her creative team, this song, centered around the theme of “Hearing the Mighty River,” stirs profound nostalgia and affection among Lao youth studying abroad for their homeland. It also embodies the younger generation’s aspiration to connect with their peers from the six Lancang-Mekong countries, expressing their hopeful vision for the future through music.

Thinlamphone hopes that the youth of the six Lancang-Mekong countries can use music as a medium to strengthen their friendships and collaboratively create a beautiful movement of harmonious coexistence.

 

Myanmar: The power of harmony in diversity 

“May the beauty of nature flourish forever, may the light of civilization shine brightly, may the torch of peace be passed down through generations, and may we work together toward a better future...” Myat Nandar (transliteration), a singer from Myanmar National Television, shared her inspiration for choosing to perform the original song “Golden City.”

“Though our countries differ in culture, language, and more, we share a common destiny.” Myat Nandar and her creative team believe that in the garden of world civilizations, there exists the beauty of nature, the beauty of culture, and the beauty of harmony. They are akin to blooming flowers, each reflecting its own unique brilliance. While each flower appreciates its individual beauty, together they create harmony in diversity. This harmony serves as a vital force for advancing human civilization and fostering a community with a shared future for humanity.

“Living by the same river, we are one family.” Myat Nandar hopes that, under the theme of “Hearing the Mighty River,” the youth from the six Lancang-Mekong countries can plant more seeds of friendship through their beautiful singing.

 

Vietnam: Lancang-Mekong friendship advances toward the light 

During the Spring Festival, Vietnamese singer Yen Thanh added a vibrant touch to the friendly exchanges among the six Lancang-Mekong countries with her song titled “March in the Sunshine.”

The creative inspiration for “March in the Sunshine” stems from a yearning for youth and a love for life. From the perspective of a 20-year-old, it portrays the fearless pursuit of dreams in the mountains and fields. Filming took place at the Mekong River floating market and various shipping scenes, highlighting their unique charm.

Yen Thanh shared that music has the power to transcend national borders, conveying warmth and strength. She hopes that this energetic song, inspired by the sun, will encourage young people to pursue their dreams fearlessly. Additionally, she envisions this song as a testament to the friendship among the six Lancang-Mekong countries, flowing like a mighty river, and helping to illuminate the beautiful vision of “One River, One Family” in the new year.

 

Thailand: Embarking on a New Journey Together in the Current of the Times 

Nid Nidawan, a Chinese-Thai artist from Thailand, is a talented singer, host, and producer fluent in Thai, Chinese, and English. In recent years, she has excelled in folk music and has been exploring ways to blend traditional Thai song and dance with modern music. Additionally, she adapts Chinese and Thai songs to create unique musical experiences.

In the music video solicitation titled “Hearing the Mighty River,” initiated by the Yunnan International Communication Center for South and Southeast Asia, Ma adapted and performed the theme song “Flying Together” for the 12th Culture and Arts Festival of Countries in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin in both Chinese and Thai. Her performance embodies the deep friendship represented by the theme “Connected by One River” among the six Lancang-Mekong countries, while also showcasing the inspiring vision of the youth from these countries joining hands and embarking on a new journey together in the current of the times.

Text by our staff correspondents
Translated by YNTA