The 2021 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Week(LMC)  Activity on Water Resources was successfully held in Yunnan from April 26 to 29. The event is aimed at celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and LMC Week 2021, raising the public’s awareness of the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation, and improving mutual trust in cooperation. More than 50 representatives including officials from China’s Ministries of Water Resources and Foreign Affairs as well as diplomatic envoys of the Mekong countries to China visited the Lancang River and exchanged views on updating Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation.

During the event, representatives of LMC Countries, including Mr. Sreng Sataro, Minster Counsellor of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Beijing, Mr.Thongsavanh Phyathep, Minister Counselor of Lao Embassy in Beijing，Mr.Htun Htun Oo, Second Secretary of Myanmar Embassy in Beijing, Mr.Mongkol Visitstump,Consul-General of Royal Thai Consulate General in Kunming, Mr.Nguyen Minh Tuan, First Secretary of Vietnam Embassy in Beijing, visited the Lancang River, calling for further water cooperation. 

The delegation visited Nuozhadu Hydropower Station, Nuozhadu Fish Breeding Station, Animal Rescue Station, Mami Resettlement Village, Jinghong Hydropower Station, and attended the meeting on 2021 LMC Week activities on water resources cooperation. During the discussion, the envoys, experts and scholars communicated on the recent Lancang-Mekong river situation and conducted in-depth exchanges on deepening water resources cooperation.

Visiting Nuozhadu Hydropower Station

Dr. Zhong Yong, Head of the Joint Working Group on Water Resources Cooperation of LMC from China, Consul of the Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources of China, addressed that with strong support from Ministries of Water Resources and Foreign Affairs of our six countries, the LMC water cooperation has been elevated to a higher level and achieved remarkable progress. We have set up and updated the Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation mechanism, held the Ministerial Meeting of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation, established the Joint Working Group of LMC Water Resources Cooperation, and the LMC Water Center. We also held the LMC Water Resources Cooperation Forum, and conducted nearly 60 technical exchange activities.  More than 100 young talents majored in water resources from the Mekong countries were recruited and fostered. And a series of water resources cooperation projects including those on dam safety, safe water supply in rural areas and river plans to continually improve water governance of the Lancang-Mekong countrie were implemented. Over the past five years, ministries of water resources and foreign affairs of the six Lancang-Mekong countries have treated each other with candor and sincerity, joined hands in water resources management, and responded to water challenges in the river basin. The Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation has brought pragmatic benefits to people in the river basin.

Zhong stressed, this year marks the fifth anniversary of Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation, and it is a new starting point for our six countries to deepen water resources cooperation. The six Lancang Mekong countries have a strong desire to further deepen practical cooperation in the field of water resources, and have reached a consensus that "the six countries in the Lancang-Mekong basin will discuss and handle the matters in the Lancang-Mekong basin". Water resources cooperation has entered a fast lane. The Chinese Ministry of Water Resources is willing to work with line ministries in the Mekong countries to deepen water resources cooperation, to continue to implement the Five-Year Action Plan, to step up the building of the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Information Sharing Platform, to support the Vietnamese side holding the Second LMC Ministerial Meeting, to support the LMC Water Center holding the Second Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum, and to conduct the projects on dam safety and safe water supply in rural areas, so as to promote the cooperation of water resources in the Lancang Mekong region to a new height, and jointly improve water governance in the Lancang-Mekong countries and build a community with a shared future for mankind in the Lancang-Mekong countries.

He expressed that the six countries should engage in collective discussion of major issues on the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. Further enhancing and  upgrading the Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation requires everyone’s effort and wisdom. I hope participants here can air your opinions freely, put forward your ideas and proposals actively, and continue follow and support the Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation so as to lift it to a higher level.

The envoys expressed their appreciation to China for organizing the event.Through this investigation and exchange, participants further understood the hydrological characteristics of the Lancang River basin and the role of reservoirs of the Lancang River in "Regulating flood and replenishing drought". Participants understood that in hydropower development, China attaches great importance to ecological and environmental protection, adheres to the shared idea of "One river,One family " in Lancang-Mekong region, attaches great importance to the livelihood and well-being of downstream countries, and strives to help downstream countries effectively alleviate the drought through scientific reservoir operation.

Visiting Nuozhadu Fish Breeding Station, Animal Rescue Station，and Rare Botanical Garden

Visiting Mami Resettlement Village

The envoys also pointed out, water resources cooperation is the priority area of Lancang-Mekong cooperation, with the strong support from China and the joint efforts of the six countries, Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation has been strengthened. It not only improved the water governance capacity of Lancang-Mekong countries, but also benefited the livelihood and well-being of the six countries. The envoys expressed their appreciation for China's efforts at Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation, especially for the positive support from the LMC Water Center, and for the warm reception of Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower Inc. The envoys said that they would further strengthen the communication with Chinese ministries of water resources and foreign affairs, and jointly make their best contribution to promoting the cooperation of Lancang-Mekong water resources.

With the theme of "One river, One family", the event is one of a series activities to mark the fifth anniversary of Lancang-Mekong cooperation. The LMC Water Center and Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower Inc. co-hosted the event. Luo Xiangsheng, deputy general secretary of the LMC Water Center, presided over the meeting.  Representatives from Chinese ministries of water resources and foreign affairs, the foreign affairs office of Yunnan provincial government and the water resources department of Yunnan Province attended the event. 

Meeting of 2021 LMC Week Activity on Water Resources

Media Group

Jinghong Hydropower Station