Environment minister leads Viet Nam Mekong River Committee

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has signed a Decision stipulating the functions, duties, rights, and organizational structure of the Viet Nam Mekong River Committee.

Vice Chairpersons of the Committee include a Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment (permanent vice chairperson), a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a Deputy Minister of Finance.

The Committee shall assist the Prime Minister in researching, directing, and handling issues to sustainably and effectively manage and use water resources and related resources in the Mekong River Basin, including the Mekong Delta basin and Sesan and Srepok River Basin in Viet Nam, in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin, the Law on Water Resources, the Law on Environmental Protection, and other relevant legal documents.

The Committee shall organize scientific and technological research and propose solutions to mitigate the impacts of activities of upstream countries on Viet Nam, and assess the transboundary impacts of Viet Nam's socio-economic development activities within the Mekong River Basin.

It shall monitor and supervise the water resources, as well as activities related to the use, protection, and sustainable development of water resources and related resources in the Mekong River Basin, in order to ensure the equitable and reasonable utilization of Mekong River water and safeguard Viet Nam's interests through cooperation projects and scientific and technological research for the Mekong Basin, particularly projects on the mainstream./.