By Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan,

First Secretary of Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Beijing

Seeing is better believing. I have just seen the mega projects of Nuozhadu HPP and Jinghong HPP with cutting edge technologies. I have just seen how you have been taking care of the surrounding environment in the process of economic development. I have just seen the viberant and dynamic cities of Pu’er and Jinghong. I have just seen the beautiful dances with brightening smiles of the charming girls and women of Manmi Village. These are all the fruits of China’s opening up and reform under the leadership of the Communist Party of China which marks its 100 anniversary of its founding this year. Congratulations to you all – our Chinese friends.

The meeting today is organized at a meaningful time and place. Together with many important activities held in LMC countries, It takes place to commemorate the fourth consecutive LMC Week and to mark the 5th anniversary of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. With regard to the place, it is in this city of Jinghong in November 2015, the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held successfully, resultant to the official inception of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation in 2016 at its first Leaders’ Meeting in Sanya, Hainan. The summit reflected the development of regional cooperation in sustainable management of water resources of the Mekong-Lancang River, the importance of the river attached to development of the sub-region and livelihood of the people and the necessity for strengthening cooperation among MLC countries in the common interest of all parties. Over the last five years, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation has been gradually growing up and witnessed substantive development in various areas and its importance. Member countries have been implementing decisions made by LMC Leaders, step-by-step concretizing the MLC Five-Year Plan of Action and helping maintain its momentum of development, making MLC become one of cooperation mechanisms which is contributing to the development of the Mekong sub-region.

Identified as one of five key priority areas of cooperation of Lancang –Mekong cooperation, water resources management cooperation has witnessed numerous achievements over the years. Joint Working Group on Water Resources Cooperation with the great support from the Mekong-Lancang Water Resources Center has been a true driving force for the water resources cooperation in the basin with concrete results, notably the approved MLC Five-year Action Plan, improved data and information sharing especially the launching of the Lancang-Mekong Water Resource Cooperation Information Sharing Platform Website last November and list of various projects approved so far. All these together with series of exchange activities would enable LMC countries to successfully implement the Five-year Action Plan and further strengthen our cooperation and solidarity.

On this occasion, we would like to thank the Government and people of China for their contributions to the MLC cooperation and their assistance to Mekong countries.

Viet Nam attaches great importance to the MLC cooperation. Viet Nam has been actively participating and efficiently contributing to the MLC cooperation since its official launch in terms of substances of cooperation and fields of cooperation, promoting sustainable management of Mekong-Lancang water resources and enhancing cooperation with other Mekong countries for the Mekong-Lancang region of peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development. Delegations of related ministries and agencies of Viet Nam have been fully participating in Joint Working Groups of MLC, following-up with the implementation of cooperation projects and programs in the framework of this sub-region cooperation mechanism. As far as the water resources cooperation is concerned, it is satisfied with its contributions to the achievements which have been made so far in the framework of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation. Viet Nam wishes to work closely with other MLC countries in all activities under the Five-year Action Plan to fulfil decisions of our Leaders and meet the expectation from regional organizations and communities.

The meeting today is not only a meaningful event to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and the 2021 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Week, but also a good opportunity to enhance partnership on MLC cooperation mechanism, especially the effective coordination between MLC embassies and line ministries and agencies of China in promoting MLC cooperation in general and MLC cooperation on water resources in particular.

I wish the meeting a big success and do hope that the sweet fruits of MLC cooperation will be shared among MLC countries and more and more shining smiles as those of girls and women in Manmi Village will be caught in villages in MLC countries.