We, the representatives of National and Local Governments of the six Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Member Countries,  representatives of international organizations, civil society, the scientific community, and the business sector, met at the 1st Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum from 1 to 2 November 2018, in Kunming, Yunnan, China. 

With the theme of "Water Partnership for Sustainable Development", we had conducted intensive exchanges on many inter-related topics, including Sustainable development, utilization and protection of water resources, Flood and Drought Disaster Management, Water-Energy-Food Nexus, International Cooperation on Water Resources Management and Knowledge Sharing on Transboundary River Management. We have reached consensus in key areas and would declare the following recommendations:  

1. Water resources are critical natural resources essential for the survival and social well-being of all peoples of LMC Member Countries. All LMC Countries are undergoing rapid social and economic development, with industrialization and urbanization leading to increasing demand for water resources. At the same time, LMC Countries are confronted with many water-related challenges, including frequent floods and droughts, water environment pollution and aquatic ecosystem degradation, and the uncertainty brought by climate change. Addressing these challenges calls for urgent joint action, especially integrated approaches that address policy, technical, financial, social, and environmental issues simultaneously, while promoting social inclusion and gender equality. 

2. The Sanya Declaration of the 1st LMC Leaders' Meeting and Phnom Penh Declaration of the 2nd LMC Leaders' Meeting crystalize the consensus reached among the six LMC Member Countries, committing us to the goal of strengthened cooperation on sustainable water resources management and utilization. We will actively work together to deliver this goal, contributing to the sustainable management and protection of water resources and the achievement of the water-related UN 2030 SDGs in the six Member Countries. 

3. Recognizing that the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation is the first mechanism that includes all six countries in the Lancang-Mekong region, we will endeavor to advance this cooperation through policy dialogues, technical exchanges, knowledge and experience sharing, joint studies and research, capacity building, and publicity and public communication of water-related knowledge and science. We will join hands in addressing our water-related challenges and making noted contribution to the improvement of our people’s well-being.  

4. We propose actions that will: build the capacity of national and local governments and river basin organizations in water governance; promote policy improvement and institutional innovation; and advance the cooperation and sharing of knowledge and experience among stakeholders. This will support water resources management decision-making in the six Member Countries that is knowledge-based, transparent, effective and inclusive.  

5. We applaud the great importance given by the six Member Countries to the prevention of and preparedness for water-related disasters. We expect that disaster prevention and preparedness be integrated into the long-term planning of the six Member Countries, with increased investment and improved risk assessment, supported by information and good practice sharing. 

2. We call for increased investment in the construction of water infrastructure, the provision of water services and cooperation in water industrial production capacity in the six Member Countries, thus increasing the capacity to cope with future water challenges and climate change risks and ensuring the water security of all six Member Countries. 

7. We appreciate that Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation is progressing in a coordinated and complimentary manner with other mechanisms in the region. In addition, we are ready to promote further cooperation among governments, businesses, research and education institutions, civil society and international organizations in all six Member Countries. 

8. We propose that Member Countries, utilizing the mechanism of the Joint Working Group on Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation, enhance the top-level design, fully support the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Center in performing its role as a cooperation platform. We commit to working together to undertake the necessary actions described in this Recommendations and to share good practice, explore cooperation opportunites and enhance synergy through various mechanisms, including this Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum. 

We thank the Ministry of Water Resources and the Government of Yunnan Province of the People's Republic of China for organizing and hosting this Forum.