大湄公河次區域(GMS)國家(指柬埔寨、緬甸、老撾、泰國和越南5國)，在東南亞發揮著重要而獨特的作用。中國與GMS國家之間在廣袤的時間和空間中所形成的同源異流、跨境而居、土生華人和華人華僑的民族關系和民族認同，在世界民族關系中，可以說是絕無僅有的。從學術意義上來說，一是反映了中國民族與東南亞民族交往交流交融的共生性;二是呈現了中國民族與東南亞民族交往交流交融的多樣性;三是表達了中國民族與東南亞民族交往交流交融的深度性。從現實意義上來說，則有利于克服中國中心主義的心態和困擾。

Great Mekong Sub-region( GMS) countries,namely Cambodia,Myanmar,Laos,Thailand and Vietnam holds crucial position in the Southeast Asia. Compared to ethnic relations in the rest of the world,it witnesses the uniqueness of diverse development with common origin,cross-border inhabitance,ethnic relationship and identity between the local Chinese and overseas Chinese formed in the long history and broad territory between China and GMS countries. The academic importance for the studies of the ethnic basis includes the co-existence,diversity and the in-depth exchange,communication interaction and integration among ethnic groups in both China and Southeast Asia. The realistic significance of the ethnic basis in this region is that it is favorable to overcome the Sino-centrism and its troubles.