Foreign Minister says Mekong River cooperation progressed

BANGKOK, Dec 24 (TNA) -- Cooperation in using water from the Mekong River among the six countries in which the river passes through has advanced considerably, said Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai. Mr Don told journalists Friday after the end of the 2nd Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, that member countries including China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand were satisfied with the cooperation given by each member country during the past. Thailand which is still in the process of reforming the country has offered good cooperation to the programme while there must not be work duplication among the member countries, he said. Vietnam has paid a special attention on water management because the country lies at the downstream of the river, said Mr Don, adding that member countries have to share vital information on the water management, especially during the dry season. He said the meeting also discussed how to conserve environment around the Mekong River. Six groups of working committee have been set up and they are scheduled to report the progress within the next six months. The outcome on the assignments of the working committee will be submitted to the next foreign ministers meeting in 2017 and to their government leaders during a meeting in Cambodia in early 2018, Mr Don added. The Mekong-Lancang Cooperation was officially launched at the 1st Leaders’ Meeting on March 23, 2016 in Sanya, Hainan, China. The goal of this framework is to sustainably develop the Mekong sub-region by reducing the developmental disparities among its member countries and between the Mekong sub-region and the outside world, with a view to strengthening the ASEAN Community. (TNA)