It is my great pleasure to join this second Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum. I appreciate the Ministry of Water Resources of China, for leading this regional cooperation and integration, in the water resources sector.

In today’s world, around two billion people – a quarter of the global population – still live without safely-managed drinking water. Furthermore, 2.3 billion people worldwide lack basic handwashing facilities, with soap and water at home. Quadruple rates of progress are required for universal access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. The lack of these basic services and social protection, leaves people vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Water is a basic resource to realize a sustainable, resilient and inclusive society.

Excellencies,

Distinguished Participants,

Almost three quarters of all recent disasters are water related. They have caused economic damage of around 700 billion US dollars over the past 20 years. The recent IPCC report, projects increases in extreme precipitation and river floods over much of Asia, with medium to high confidence. Climate change will impact the water cycle, ranging from the availability of water resources, to water disaster risks. We must prepare for, and adapt to such impacts, before we regret in the future.

Target 6.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, of the 2030 Agenda, promotes integrated water resources management, through transboundary cooperation. Globally, 153 countries share transboundary basins. However, only two thirds of these countries have registered monitoring data about operational arrangements for water cooperation. The good practice of the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation, could be shared with other regions, as a formal communication mechanism among riparian countries. Regular exchange of data and information is also critical for transboundary cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To achieve sustainable development and integrated management of water resources, the United Nations General Assembly adopted its resolution to declare the period from 2018 to 2028, as the International Decade for Action, on Water for Sustainable Development. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UN DESA, in collaboration with UN-Water, strongly supports national progress on water-related goals through:

Ø the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework, and

Ø the SDG 6 Capacity Development Initiative.

The United Nations 2023 Water Conference, will be convened in New York in March, 2023, to assess progress in the first half of the Water Action Decade. And, to identify necessary actions for the second half. As Secretary-General of the 2023 Water Conference, I welcome all countries and relevant stakeholders to actively join this multi-stakeholder, and action-oriented conference, and its preparatory process.

I hope that all six member-countries of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism, can make their important contribution to the success of the 2023 UN Water Conference.

I wish this Forum a great success!

I thank you.