1.The 3rd Special Meeting of JWG on Lancang-Mekong Water Resources  Cooperation in 2019 was held in Foshan, Guangdong Province, China on 29-30 October 2019. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Yu Xingjun, head of the Chinese delegation, Consul (DG level) of Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources, China. Participating Heads of delegations from the Member Countries are Mr. Klok Sam Ang, Director of Department of Planning and International Cooperation, Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, Cambodia; Mr. Chanthanet Boualapha, Secretary General of Lao National Mekong Committee Secretariat, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao PDR; Mr. Win Hlaing, Acting Director General of Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Myanmar; Dr. Somkiat Prajamwong, Secretary General, Office of the National Water Resources, Thailand; Dr. Le Duc Trung, Director General of Viet Nam National Mekong Committee, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment，Viet Nam. The representative from the MRCS was invited to the meeting. The discussion on the draft Joint Statement was facilitated by Dr. Zhong Yong, Secretary General of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Center (LMC Water Center).

A. Remarks by the heads of delegations

2.Heads of delegations reiterated the achievements of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation and expressed their expectation for the First Ministerial Meeting of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation to be held in December, 2019. Heads of delegations conveyed their appreciations to  LMC Water Center and Pearl River Water Resources Commission, Ministry of Water Resources for their efforts  in the preparation of this special meeting.

B. Discussion on the overall arrangement of the Ministerial Meeting

3.The Meeting discussed and agreed on the overall arrangement of the upcoming 1st Ministerial Meeting of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation on 10-11 December 2019.

4.The Meeting agreed that the Head of  JWG China would make report on the progress of the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation to the 1st Ministerial Meeting on behalf of JWGs of six member countries.

5.The Meeting agreed on the theme and topics of the 1st Ministerial Meeting, and every participating Minister will be expected to deliver a speech about 15 minutes to share challenges, experiences and best practices of water governance and look into the future for the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation in alphabetical order of the countries.

6.With its own budget allocated for the MRC Council visit to China and the support from the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the MRCS committed to providing financial support to four delegates including the Minister for each of its four member countries and would consider doing the same for MRC dialogue partner Myanmar, in terms of international tickets and accommodation, while expenses of other delegates will be borne by each delegation. The MRCS requested the agenda for the field visit to reflect MRC Council visit to China. Other expenses to be occurred during the meeting, in relation to venue, meal, local transportation and field visits, will be covered by the Chinese side.

C. Discussion on the Joint Statement of the Ministerial Meeting

7.The final draft of Joint Statement of the 1st Ministerial Meeting of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation was discussed and agreed by the JWG. The Delegations agreed to complete internal consultations and approval procedures of the Joint Statement respectively by November 2019.

D. Discussion on the list of proposed projects for Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation

8.The list of projects proposed by the JWG of the six member countries was discussed and agreed at the meeting and to be submitted to the 1st Ministerial Meeting for adoption and release. The feedback of confirmation of the list of project proposals will be sent to the LMC Water Center by November, 2019.

9.The Minutes was recorded in English in Foshan, Guangdong Province, China on 30th October 2019 in six copies.