Vietnam will strengthen cooperation with its partners in the Upper Mekong River region to protect and use water resources sustainably.
Le Duc Trung, CEO of Vietnam’s Mekong River Commission (MRC) Office, made the statement at a MRC plenary meeting in Hanoi on July 12. to review Vietnam’s efforts in fostering water resource management and development cooperation.
He reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to actively participate in regional and international groupings such as Mekong-Japan, Mekong-US, the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), and the ASEAN-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in oder to undertake MRC initiatives.
According to MRC, Mekong-Vietnam cooperation witnessed a boon during the 2012–2013 period. Diverse activities celebrated World Water Day and the International Year of Water Cooperation, including the ASEM Seminar on Water and River Basin Management (“A Green Growth Approach”), the Fourth Regional Working Group Meeting of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI), and the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit.
Regional leaders demonstrated their mutual determination to improve cooperation in water resources management and encourage sustainable development.
The MRC warned that the excessive water usage is exerting a negative impact on the environment in the region, which should be addressed very soon.
Trung said MRC Vietnam will accelerate data and cooperative programme results submissions to the MRC.
Using the 1995 Mekong River Agreement as a guide, it will also encourage its stakeholders to involve themselves in cooperative programmes promoting the Mekong River’s sustainable development.