By Dr. Zhong Yong

Head of JWG on Water Resources Cooperation of LMC from China,

Consul of Department of International Cooperation and Sci-Tech, MWR of China

This year marks the fifth anniversary of launching Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism. State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, addresses a reception celebrating the anniversary, and met with ambassadors and envoys from the Mekong countries on April 13. As State Councilor Wang Yi said, our six Lancang-Mekong countries are close and friendly neighbors, as well as natural cooperative partners. Over the past five years, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism has brought tangible benefits to the people in the river basin. We wish to deepen cooperation in water resources to better serve the people's livelihood and well-beings of all countries in the basin. 

Our cooperation came into being because of our shared river, and harnessing the river for our common good is essential to our future success. 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 and the LMC Water Center, held the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum and conducted nearly 60 technical exchange activities. We recruited and fostered more than 100 young talents majored in water resources from the Mekong countries. We implemented a series of water resources cooperation projects including those on hydrological monitoring, early warning and forecasting, small watershed management, dam safety, safe drinking water in rural areas and comprehensive watershed planning. 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 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. 

Again, 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 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 LMC Water Center holding the Second Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum,to conduct the projects on dam safety and safe water supply in rural areas, and to support the Vietnamese side to hold the Second Ministerial Meeting of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation, so as to jointly improve water governance in the Lancang-Mekong countries and build a community with a shared future for mankind in the Lancang-Mekong countries.  

Our 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 the six countries’ 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.