Lao FM reaffirms support for cooperation among Mekong countries
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E-mail Xinhua, February 9, 2022
The Lao foreign minister has urged the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to continue maintaining its impartial role and facilitating the implementation of the Mekong Agreement in a message of support for cooperation among the river basin countries.
The remarks came during a courtesy call by MRC Secretariat Chief Executive Officer Anoulak Kittikhoun on Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith on Tuesday, a statement from MRC Secretariat said on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Saleumxay said that to ensure sustainable development and maintain cooperation, the 1995 Mekong Agreement and MRC's official prior consultation process should be the basis for member countries and stakeholders to voice concerns and address critical issues together based on facts.
"Dialogue and mutual understanding between Laos and other countries and stakeholders is extremely critical for an economically prosperous and environmentally sound Mekong region," Saleumxay said.
The MRC, he said, has played a vital role in supporting the socio-economic development of Laos and other member countries including Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Welcoming the first CEO of the MRC secretariat from Laos, the Lao minister added it was important for the MRC to maintain its strong reputation and services to the Mekong countries and the confidence and support of all partners.
Kittikhoun told the Lao minister that the secretariat would continue to render technical support to the member countries, facilitate discussions by all parties and broaden MRC cooperation with others, including with upstream countries, China and Myanmar.
"The MRC is deepening and extending its partnerships to ensure our collective efforts benefit the peoples that depend on the Mekong River Basin amid unprecedented challenges arising from climate change and shifts in flows," said the MRC CEO.
The Mekong River Commission is an inter-governmental organization established in 1995 for regional dialogue and cooperation in the Lower Mekong River basin.
Based on the Mekong Agreement between Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, the commission serves as a regional platform for water diplomacy as well as a knowledge hub of water resources management for the sustainable development of the region.
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