Dear colleagues, 

This morning has been well spent on meaningful and inspiring exchanges and discussions. The meeting is a complete success. On behalf of the Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your contributions to Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation. We are also deeply indebted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, embassies of the Mekong countries in China, and the Mekong River Commission Secretariat for their generous support to the meeting. 

Focusing on the theme of “Enhancing Water Partnership for Sustainable Development,” we exchanged our policies and experiences in water governance and expressed our common wish to strengthen Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation. We issued the Joint Declaration and the List of Recommended Projects, born witness to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Center and the Mekong River Commission Secretariat, expanded our consensus on cooperation, and pointed out the direction for future development. It is a truly rewarding meeting. In the next step, we need to work together, take pragmatic actions, and translate what we have agreed upon at this meeting into concrete cooperation projects. Regarding follow-up implementation, I have some humble suggestions to share with you: 

First, we should dig deeper into the concept of Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation. As the cooperation is a common pursuit of us riparian countries, I hope that the water authorities in LMC countries will continue to dig deeper into the LMC idea, respect each other’s rights, interests and concerns and advance win-win cooperation through consultation on an equal footing, to consolidate and expand our consensus on Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation. 

Second, we should act proactively to implement the meeting outcomes. I hope that the water authorities in the LMC countries will lay down, as soon as possible, general principles for developing and utilizing water and hydropower resources through consultation and joint contribution for shared benefits, and clarify each other’s responsibilities and rights for such development and utilization. The Joint Working Group for Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation should strengthen communication and collaboration to clarify and implement specific tasks based on the meeting outcomes. The Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Center should continue to provide technical support and make particular efforts to build the information sharing platform. 

Third, we should work together to raise global awareness of our consensus on Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation. The ultimate goal of the cooperation is to truly benefit people of all riparian countries. I hope that the water authorities in the LMC countries will ramp up their publicity efforts in various ways to raise public awareness of our cooperation consensus and what we have achieved, make our voices heard by the rest of the world and cancel unwanted misleading noises, so as to win public support and create a favorable environment for Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation 

Our six countries are not only good neighbors connected by the same river, but also good partners on the same boat. Looking forward, China is willing to continue working with the Mekong countries in deepening water resources cooperation and cementing our Lancang-Mekong water partnership. Let’s join hands to advance regional sustainable development through Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation, and make greater contribution to building a Lancang-Mekong community with the shared future of peace and prosperity. 

With this, I conclude this Ministerial Meeting of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation. 

Thank you.