The 4th Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit and MRC leaders’ meetings with dialogue and development partners were held in Vientiane on Apr 2-5.
The 4th MRC Summit was attended by Prime Ministers of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, and representatives from Thailand, China and Myanmar.
The 4th MRC Summit was held under the theme “Innovation and Cooperation for a Waster Secure and Sustainable Mekong” with government leaders and representatives from member countries reaffirming their highest political commitment to Mekong Agreement 1995 and a leading role of cooperation for the sustainable development of water and related resources in the Mekong basin.
The meeting adopted the Vientiane Declaration with demonstrates achievements of MRC and progress in implementing Siem Reap Declaration since the 3rd MRC Summit, and insisted to further implement Mekong basin development strategy based on the principle of integrated water resource management, and other strategies as well as recommendations and regulations, specifically the MRC Agreement and its Procedures, which have provided the MRC countries with opportunities to share and discuss lessons learnt for sustainable development and management of the Mekong River.
Vientiane Declaration also states expectations for promoted cooperation to bring about optimal benefits through applying innovations to developing tools and policies to cope with potential challenges and risks in the Mekong basin.
Addressing a press conference held right after the summit on Apr 5, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, who chaired the summit, called on all member countries and stakeholders to exert collective efforts to materialize the key points stated in the Vientiane Declaration.
The 4th MRC International Conference held on Apr 2-3 on the sidelines of the summit was attended by more than 600 participants from around the world who exchanged points of view and contemporary knowhow and experiences on water innovation to promote and strengthen cooperation in the Mekong region.
Taking place every four years, the MRC Summit allows senior leaders of MRC member countries to review cooperation on the sustainable development and management of the Mekong basin and adopt new cooperation plan.
The first edition of the MRC summit was held in Hua Hin, Thailand in 2010 as the second and third editions were held in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in 2014 and Siem Reap, Cambodia in 2018, respectively.
Source: Lao News Agency