First MRC Summit issues declaration of cooperation

The Declaration came out at the first MRC Summit which took place in Thailand's seaside resort town of Hua Hin.

Under the Declaration, in the coming time, the regional countries pledged to ratify and implement the Mekong River Basin Development Plan, focusing on water resource management; protecting people from flood; encouraging waterway transportation and trade; researching climate change-related threats to livelihood; sharing information and experience of water resource use and management; speeding up the realization of the 1995 Mekong Agreement; bettering operation of the MRC; strengthening ties with strategic partners; and welcoming other countries like China and Myanmar to join the MRC. 

Việt Nam attaches importance to the Mekong cooperation, says PM  Nguyễn Tấn Dũng at the first MRC Summit,  Hua Hin, Thailand, April 5, 2010 – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

* Mekong cooperation reflects a common trend 

Leading the Vietnamese delegation to the event, PM Ngyễn Tấn Dũng highlighted that the 1995 Mekong Agreement and the establishment of MRC had opened new chapter for Mekong cooperation.

Especially, the MRC’s effective activities have made considerable contributions to socio-economic development, environment protection and better living standards for over 60 million people in the region, said Mr. Dũng. 

Việt Nam, the downstream country where the Mekong River flows into the sea, is fully aware of the changes of the river due to natural and human impacts, said PM Dũng. In dry season, Việt Nam’s Mekong Delta, where millions of people are living, is suffering heavily from droughts and salt penetration.  

Việt Nam pays attention to the Mekong cooperation and pledges to join hands with regional countries to realize the Mekong Agreement; preserve the Mekong River which would connect different cultures and represent regional solidarity, friendship, cooperation, prosperity and integration, emphasized the Vietnamese PM. 

* Việt Nam proposes six recommendations

The Vietnamese Government chief took the occasion to put forth six recommendations.

First, to fulfill the Mekong River Basin Development Plan on the principle of general water resource management;

Second, to formulate climate change-related scenarios and joint action plans for the Mekong River Basin;

Third, to perfect necessary legal frameworks and establish specific mechanism to implement procedures on water exploitation which had been approved by the MRC; 

Fourth, to raise capacity of the MRC and its staff in terms of organization and facilities;  

Fifth, to encourage China and Myanmar, the two dialogue partners, to become full members of the MRC in order to jointly tap the water resource in sustainable and responsible manner; and

Sixth, to call for financial and technical support from international organizations and donors for a Mekong River Basin of economic prosperity, social equality and healthy environment.

On the threshold of the first MRC Summit, on April 2-3, over 300 representatives from the Mekong River Basin and nine other river basins in the world gathered in the International Conference on Trans-boundary Water Resource Management. 

By Hương Giang