3 April 2014
Mekong River riparian
countries have improved co-operation since the first Mekong River Commission
(MRC) summit held in Thailand four years ago. Vietnamese official said since
the first meeting member countries have performed some tasks that we assessed
as very important, such as developing a joint strategy for developing the
Mekong River and a plan to manage the river till 2015, and determining standards
for the quality of water which had been under debate earlier.
The member countries
have also agreed with instructions to build hydropower dams according to
international standards. The spirit of co-operation among the member countries
is very good. With a fast growing population and economy, achieving water,
energy, and food security is vital for us. The trans-boundary dimension of this
challenge is obvious, not least for food production in the Mekong Delta, but
also for us to harvest our hydropower potential to satisfy fast growing energy
needs. Water resources are limited but demand for water for socio-economic
development is increasing.
It has set up multiple
trans-boundary river co-operation mechanisms with 12 neighboring countries,
including Vietnam, which have promoted exchanges and co-operation in providing
hydrological data during the flood season, flood control, protection of water
resources and others. The Lancang – Mekong River links six riparian countries
closely. China is ready to enhance co-operation with downstream countries to
jointly cope with the water, energy, and food security challenges facing the
greater Mekong sub-region in the context of global climate change."
WATER, ENERGY, FOOD
MRC said the Mekong
region is not only seeing increased demands for water, energy, and food but is
also confronted with changing weather conditions that have affected
agricultural production among others. Rapid development in the region,
including tributary and mainstream hydropower projects, planned water diversion
for increased irrigation, navigation, and aquaculture, has implications for
food and water supplies. The rising sea level has caused saltwater intrusion
that has affected food production. Meanwhile, unusually high rainfall in
mid-December last year resulted in unprecedented fluctuations in water levels
and flows and muddier water in southern Laos and northern Cambodia.
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