It is my great pleasure indeed to meet Excellencies Ministers and high representative from the riparian countries and other Distinguished Delegates at the Opening Ceremony of the Second Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum through Video Conference today, which is an opportunity where we can exchange views with each other to further promote the transboundary water cooperation at a new height within the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation for the shared prosperity and sustainable future among the riparian countries sharing the same river.  

As all of us are well aware, the Lancang-Mekong River provides us, the riparian countries, with water and other related resources to support the riparian countries’ sustainable development and Basin peoples’ sustainable livelihood and well-being. Each of our riparian countries has its own needs and priorities in developing and using the Mekong water and related resources, for our social and economic benefits and progresses.  

Hence, it is our shared responsibility that all riparian countries need to strengthen our regional cooperation and to work together to achieve the sustainable outcomes in the water secure context to support the sustainable management and development in the Lancang-Mekong region. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,  

Within the Lancang- Mekong Water Resources Cooperation, our six countries work with each other basing on the mutually beneficial cooperation, to jointly ensure the water resources in our shared river effectively managed, developed, used and conserved for the secured and shared benefits of the present and future generations in this part of the globe.  

Cambodia highly appreciates and values the major and significant progresses and achievements made thus far within the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Framework, having assisted the riparian countries in their sustainable socio-economic development and having supported the regional prosperity at more productive and tangible outcomes, including the water resources cooperation. The achieved outcomes came from our joint efforts and effective collaboration.  

Among areas of focus in water resource cooperation, our riparian countries have been collaborating with each other on water policy dialogue, the operational information sharing platform, joint studies and researches, continued exchange of best practices and technical expertise building and development within the Lancang- Mekong Cooperation and also in the Mekong River Commission Cooperation framework.  

Overall, Cambodia noted with pleasure of our successful outcomes jointly achieved under the LMC Water Resources Cooperation and taking this opportunity, Cambodia would like to express our sincere thanks to China for her support bilaterally to the water resource sector development and management in Cambodia, plus provision of special funds through Lancang- Mekong Cooperation to implement some of the water resource-related projects. This support is critically important and truly needed having helped contribute to the overall interest of sustainable economic development and social progresses in Cambodia. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

In the recent years till now, our shared river having faced many key challenges due to the population growth, increasing needs for water, food and energy security in each of the riparian countries and rapid developments in the Basin, associated with the emerged climate change impacts and risks. The experienced critical drought and Mekong low flow are of our great concerns and it has caused big impact on the Mekong shared resources and sustainability. The critical low flow to the Tonle Sap Lake has been observed in these recent years, having affected the fishery productivity, the productive ecosystem of the Lake that it naturally serves and provides for the Mekong system and riverine communities as well as for the country as whole. In addition, the continued impacts of Covid-19 pandemic in each of the riparian countries is another threat having caused altogether the greater concerns and impacts on the riparian countries’ economies and Basin peoples’ livelihood and well-being.  

In order to overcome the common challenges ahead effectively in this changing context and to achieve the sustainable outcomes, it requires our collective efforts, stronger collaboration and cooperative partnerships. Cambodia assures of our full cooperation with all the riparian countries and reaffirm our commitment and readiness to work closer in the shared responsibility toward the achievement of the shared prosperity with inclusive growth and sustainable future for each of the riparian countries and for the Lancang-Mekong region, altogether.  

It is my firm belief that the Second Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum will be successfully concluded with significant progresses further leading to our stronger Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation for the common and mutual benefits, now and in the future.  

Thank you.