KUNMING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- An exchange and cooperation consortium focusing on agricultural science and technology in the Lancang-Mekong region has been established in southwest China's Yunnan Province, local authorities said Friday.

The Exchange and Cooperation Consortium for Agricultural Science and Technology in the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (ECCAST-LMC) was established at the ongoing 3rd Symposium on Exchange and Cooperation to Enhance Innovation for Agricultural Science and Technology in South & Southeast Asia on Thursday, held in the city of Zhaotong.

More than 60 agricultural experts from China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia attended the symposium and adopted the charter of ECCAST-LMC.

Led by the Chinese government, ECCAST-LMC will join hands with countries and institutions in the Lancang-Mekong region to enhance exchange and cooperation in agricultural science and technology in a wider range of fields, and build a platform for agricultural science and technology exchanges and joint research and cooperation at a higher level in the region.

The consortium is expected to lay down cooperative mechanisms for the prevention and control of plant diseases and insect pests, animal diseases, and fishery ecological conservation, and work together to promote coordinated development in related fields.

The consortium is an intergovernmental and non-profit organization, according to the charter, which will play an important role in further boosting the sustainable development of the Lancang-Mekong region.