Regional leaders praise Thai King for water-related development

CHIANG MAI, May 20 (TNA) - Leaders of many countries in Asia and the Pacific have praised His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand for his water-related development projects. The appreciation came from national leaders who attended Monday's national leaders' session held as part of the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Chiang Mai from May 14-20. The national leaders include Brunie's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Fiji President Epeli Nailatikau and Vanuatu Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili also praised the Thai government for coping with severe flooding in 2011 together with the local private sector, acknowledging that the incident offered a lesson to other countries. The national leaders also expressed their concerns over escalating flooding and drought in the region, which have resulted from climate change or the global warming problem and growing populations, urging countries in the region to jointly manage water and provide their people with equal access to water. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proposed that international river basin committees be formed to solve problems about water in border rivers, expressing her hope that such joint solution efforts will develop to regional and global cooperation on water solutions. The regional leaders, meanwhile, noted that they consider the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit a good forum for countries in the region to jointly work out solutions. (TNA)