- His Excellency Tian Xuebin, Vice Minister of Water Resources of China 

- His Excellency He Lianghui, Vice Governor of Yunnan Province of China 

- Excellency Wijarn Simachaya, Permanent Secretary of MoNRE of Thailand 

- Excellencies, 

- Distinguished Delegates, 

- Ladies and Gentlemen, 

On behalf of the government of the Lao PDR and I myself, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations and appreciation to the government and people of the People’s Republic of China for the convening this important the 1st Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation (LMC) Forum under the theme "Shared River, Shared Future", as well as for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to our delegation since our arrival in this beautiful greenery city of Kunming. 

In the past, Lao PDR have made some key achievements which I would like to share such as we have completed setting up Five Year Action Plan on Natural Resources and Environment 2016-2020, Strategy for 2025, and Vision 2030. In these three timeframes the water resource management has been incorporated exclusively and we are now on the process of Mid-term review for these activities. Moreover, the revision of water law was discussed and consulted with many concerned line-agencies from central to local level. After comprehensive process it was officially adopted by NA in May 2017 and declared by President in June 2017. In the regional context, Lao PDR is implementing and up scaling Mekong-Integrated Water Resources Management Program as well as ten years of strategic framework of the Greater Mekong Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation Program, IWRM-based Basin Development Plan of the Lower Mekong River Basin 2016-2020, ASEAN Strategic Plan of Action for Water Resources Management.  

- Excellencies, 

- Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Our 1st Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum today will provides an excellent opportunity for us to have an in-depth to innovative platform for policy dialogue, technical exchange and economic cooperation in the water sector, promote sharing of water management experience, facilitate business cooperation, and contribute to sustainable water utilization and socio-economic development in all riparian countries. Lao PDR and China have intensive cooperation on capacity building and demonstration projects, including Laos National Water Resources Data and Information Center, Master Planning of Nam Ou and Nam Theun-Kading River Basins and Water quality monitoring programme. This cooperation will play an important role in water resources management in Lao PDR. We expect that the Mekong-Lancang Water Resources Cooperation continues focusing on the delivery of practical results. As the cooperation mechanism jointly set up by the six member countries, Mekong-Lancang Water Resources Cooperation is the first of its kind involving the six riparian countries in an equitable manner with the aim of shared benefits. Water resources are essential for the well-being of our peoples. Lao PDR attaches great importance to Mekong-Lancang Water Resources Cooperation.  

Lao PDR will work closely with the other member countries to move forward our cooperation to a wider and deeper level, through policy dialogues, joint research, capacity building, cooperative projects, especially during the period that Lao PDR acts as the co-chair country for the MLC mechanism. In parallel, urgently we would like to share knowledge and experiences exchange with China, riparian countries and relevant stakeholder on the cascade Dams operation and flood and drought management; and build the capacity of the focal point Lao PDR for Mekong-Lancang Water Resources Cooperation in order to coordinate and implement Lancang-Mekong Cooperation effectively. 

- Excellencies, 

- Ladies and Gentlemen, 

My last but not least, Mekong-Lancang Water Resources Cooperation Center serves as a platform for the water resources cooperation among the six member countries. Lao PDR will actively support the development of this Center to enable it play more supporting roles for our water resources cooperation. 

Finally, I wish the 1st Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum great success and fruitful outcomes. 

Thank you very much! 

Khob Jai Lai Lai! 

Fei Chang Gan Xei ！